Boubacar Kamara to thank as Aston Villa achieve something for first time since 2020-21 in win vs Burnley
Aston Villa recorded their fourth win on the bounce by beating Burnley 2-1 on Sunday.
Donyell Malen’s fantastic brace was enough to move Aston Villa up to 13th in the Premier League table.
Having started the season poorly, Unai Emery faced scrutiny for Villa’s lack of fluidity in attack.
Emery’s side are now looking to build some momentum as they look to secure European football for the third season in a row.
Aston Villa aerially dominate Burnley at Villa Park
The 2-1 scoreline flattered Burnley, with Aston Villa recording seven shots on target against the impressive Martin Dubravka in goal.
Villa won 74 per cent of their aerial duels on Sunday, their highest success rate recorded since the start of the 2020-21 season.
Boubacar Kamara alone won seven of his eight duels, whilst Ollie Watkins won all three of his.
Villa Park has played its part in the last three performances, and Emery will be delighted to see that his players are battling hard in every Premier League match.
Aston Villa are now predicted to finish ninth, yet if they keep up their form over the next month, Emery should be confident that his team can challenge the top five by the end of the season.
Aston Villa must maintain their aerial dominance as they play four of the current top five in their next four matches.
Boubacar Kamara a shining light for Villa this season
Kamara joined Aston Villa on a free transfer in 2022, and it is clear to see that he is currently the best midfielder at the club.
The French midfielder has been exceptional this season, breaking up play and making line-breaking passes to Villa’s misfiring forwards.
The through ball for Malen’s first goal was delightful, whilst his dominance in midfield made the job easier for the inexperienced Lamare Bogarde, who started alongside him.
| Games played | 5 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Pass accuracy (percentage) | 88.3 |
| Long ball accuracy (percentage) | 80 |
| Duels won (percentage) | 66.7 |
| Aerial duels won (percentage) | 83.3 |
Kamara showed his quality in that 1-1 draw to Sunderland, and it is clear to see that he is one of the first names on the Aston Villa teamsheet.
If the 25-year-old continues his form, there’s no reason why he can’t make a late push for the France squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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