Aston Villa ace Amadou Onana shines for Belgium as ‘indispensable’ verdict dropped
Amadou Onana has become an “indispensable” member of the Belgian national team after the Aston Villa midfielder excelled in their 3-1 win over Israel.
The 23-year-old played the full 90 minutes as Belgium began their UEFA Nations League campaign with a victory, building on the strong start he’s made to Premier League life in the claret and blue of Villa.
Fellow Premier League stars Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans got on the scoresheet for the Red Devils; Onana anchoring the midfield from a deeper position despite scoring twice already this season.
Belgian news outlet Het Nieuwsblad (7 September, football section page 3) said Onana: “Is gradually becoming indispensable from the starting eleven. (He) ensures balance and athletic ability.”
Aston Villa man Amadou Onana shines in Belgium victory
Although hardly the star of the show in Belgium’s 3-1 win over Israel, Onana kept the high tempo ticking over from midfield as the Red Devils pulled away with two quick-fire goals early in the second half.
Achieving a 7.6 rating on SofaScore, Onana was involved throughout the 90 minutes, taking 82 touches on the ball and completing 62 of his 69 attempted passes at a rate of 90 per cent.
Onana found his target with all three long balls he attempted, and laid on two key passes for his team-mates in a dominant Belgium performance.
His shooting was less accurate, however, with two of the three efforts he attempted flying off target and a third being blocked by the Israel defence.
The 23-year-old also completed an impressive four interceptions in defence, as well as a solitary tackle, but wasn’t as solid on the ball as Villa fans have become accustomed to from the midfielder this season.
Onana lost possession a total of nine times and also committed two fouls, winning just two of his five duels overall against a spirited Israel side.
However, Belgium were able to keep Israel at arm’s length throughout their Nations League opener, and with tougher tests to come against France and Italy to come, Villa fans will hope that Onana’s form goes from strength to strength.
In other Aston Villa news, the club had been on the brink of a Premier League points deduction just hours before their PSR deadline.
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