credit: Imago

Max Wilkins

Tue 17 September 2024 18:38, UK

Unai Emery may be forced into hooking Lamare Bogarde at half time for Aston Villa after Young Boys targeted him throughout the opening 45 minutes.

The Villans go in at the interval in Bern 2-0 up thanks to an excellently worked Youri Tielemans goal from a set piece and a bizarre Jacob Ramsey strike.

This opener came despite having spent the majority of the first half on the back foot with Emi Martinez being forced into multiple key saves.

These chances mainly came down the home team’s right-hand side, with youngster Bogarde being picked on.

This has seen Gabby Agbonlahor pick out the Dutchman live on talkSPORT 2 (6:10pm, 17 September), saying: “He’s clearly being targeted.”

Unai Emery to hook Lamare Bogarde for Aston Villa v Young Boys

Villa are winning a match in the Champions League at half time – that is the reality of the club right now.

With that being said, there was a worry down the Young Boys’ left-hand side with Bogarde getting consistently pestered by Ebrima Colley and Filip Ugrinic.

This saw the 20-year-old lose two out of five duels for a 60 per cent win rate, while only making one tackle in three attempts (33 per cent) [FotMob].

With the former Bristol Rovers loanee missing the mark on his attempted challenges, he made two fouls on the opposition which led to free kicks in dangerous areas.

Emery may be more pleased with his use of the ball with an 89 per cent pass accuracy, but he has let himself down with one failed long ball attempt.

It has to be said that the Dutchman is featuring in his third start in a row and his European football debut, so there is no shame in struggling somewhat, but Emery will not want to take any risks at all as Villa sit on this two-goal advantage.

In other Aston Villa news, one academy star showed his class to Unai Emery with his UEFA Youth League showing.

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