Jhon Duran delivers for Aston Villa v Bologna as Andy Townsend moots new rivalry

Jhon Duran proved he has what it takes to overtake Ollie Watkins as Unai Emery's leading striker as Aston Villa beat Bologna 2-0 in the Champions League.

Speaking on co-commentary for talkSPORT (22 October, 9:30pm), Andy Townsend said that while Watkins remains the number-one centre-forward at Villa Park, Duran is knocking at the door.

The Colombian popped up in the box to steer the exceptional Morgan Rogers' cross into the far corner to make it 2-0 on 22 October but showed his frustration after being replaced by Watkins immediately afterwards.

Townsend said: “Ollie Watkins, in my view, is Villa’s number one striker but Duran has really put him under the cosh, and there’s a real rivalry brewing between the two of them.”

Jhon Duran shows he can be the main man at Aston Villa v Bologna

Making just his second start of the season in all competitions having scored almost every time he's come off the bench, Duran once again delivered on the big stage to score his seventh goal of the campaign.

Against Bologna, Duran fired off five shots, with three blocked, one testing goalkeeper Lukas Skorupski and the other finding the bottom corner to seal the points which sent Villa top of the Champions League.

That 100 per cent shot accuracy helped Duran to produce 0.48 expected goals and assists combined [FotMob], with 1.21 xGOT highlighting just how deadly the Colombian's finishing has been this season.

In 28 total touches, eight of Duran's came in the Bologna box, with his keenness to beat the lines seeing the striker caught offside, as well as being dispossessed twice by the visiting defenders.

Although Duran won just two of his seven ground duels [FotMob], one of those he did win saw the number nine race across the front of compatriot Jhon Lucumi to score the game-clinching goal.

If his second starting berth of the campaign was an audition for Duran to get more minutes at Villa Park, he certainly passed with flying colours, and the onus will now be on Watkins to show that he can still be the first name on Emery's team-sheet.

In other Aston Villa news, one Villans youngster is being pursued by a Premier League club as he looks to move up the pecking order.

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