John McGinn scored for Aston Villa against RB Leipzig (credit: Imago)
John McGinn scored for Aston Villa against RB Leipzig (credit: Imago)

Alan Shearer can't believe what he saw of McGinn in Aston Villa win v RB Leipzig

Max Wilkins

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior sports journalist with experience at GRV Media and VAVEL; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Exclusive content, statistical analysis, and deep-dive reporting across the Breaking Media network. THE INSIGHT Max utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified, exclusive reporting and data-driven insight. He provides the intelligence behind the stories to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Alan Shearer was shocked at how easy it was for John McGinn to open the scoring for Aston Villa against RB Leipzig.

The Villans went 1-0 up against the Bundesliga outfit with less than two minutes on the clock at the Red Bull Arena thanks to the Scotland international.

The 30-year-old just had to put the finishing touch on an excellent move which left Shearer in shock on co-commentary duty for Amazon Prime Video (10 December).

He said: "What a finish. I bet he couldn't believe it the space he was in John McGinn.

"Rogers does really well keeping the ball alive and keeping the pressure on. Cash isn't sure whether to go down the right-hand side but he comes in and clips it in with his left foot.

"It's a wonderful header from Watkins into the path of McGinn. His eyes open up, no mistake. What a start."

Alan Shearer wowed by John McGinn goal for Aston Villa v RB Leipzig

It was the dream start for Unai Emery and his players in Germany, going 1-0 up and performing well against top opposition.

The build-up play and the eventual finish was top-class and was the pattern that Villa followed in the opening exchanges of this European clash.

There was little that Marco Rose's side could do, for the most part, to counteract the Villans' high press and solid defensive line.

Despite being largely unreachable at the back, there is no doubt that the away side deserved to take the lead for their showing in the early stages of the Champions League clash.

Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery [Credit: Imago]

It is a shame that this was ultimately let down by a moment of madness from Emi Martinez but this was massively against the run of play.

Regardless of this, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance which was much improved from the drab and dull win against Southampton.

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