It was a frustrating day for Aston Villa, dealing with a highly controversial VAR decision while trying to mount a comeback against Brentford. The struggles started late in the first half when Brentford’s Dango Ouattara found the back of the net in stoppage time. That opening goal came right after the visitors were knocked down to ten men. Kevin Schade was rightfully ejected following a VAR review for kicking out at Matty Cash—a move former Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor noted happened because Cash “got in his head.”
A Goal Wiped Away
Villa thought they had finally found their equalizer in a chaotic sequence. Jadon Sancho fired a shot that was parried by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and Tammy Abraham was right there to jump on the rebound and tap it in from close range. The celebration didn’t last long, though. Officials took a second look at the build-up and wiped the goal off the board, ruling that Leon Bailey hadn’t managed to keep the ball in bounds earlier in the move.
Questions Over Conclusive Angles
The decision immediately sparked outrage, mostly because it wasn’t exactly clear if the officials actually had a camera angle proving the whole ball crossed the line. Reacting on GameDay Live, Agbonlahor said the home crowd was furious, adding, “When you see the replay it does look like the whole ball is out, but come on… this isn’t football.” Co-host Scott Minto backed him up, arguing you couldn’t say with 100 percent certainty that the ball was completely out of play. Sam Matterface chimed in as well, questioning how the referees could even make a definitive call with the angles available.
The Premier League match center eventually took to X to explain the ruling. They stated that the referee overturned the goal because the ball was “factually out of play” during the attacking possession phase (APP), resulting in a throw-in for Brentford. Seeking further clarity, talkSPORT reached out to the PGMOL regarding the incident.
Looking Ahead to Europe
While the domestic drama stings, Villa has to quickly shift their focus to the continent. The draw for the 2025/2026 UEFA Europa League knockout stages is right around the corner, mapping out the path from the Round of 16 all the way to the final. Aston Villa secured a spot in the top 8 of the league phase, setting them up for some interesting potential matchups. The draw rules mean teams can now face opponents they already played during the league phase, or even clubs from their own country.
Potential Knockout Matchups
Villa is looking at either Celta Vigo or Lille as their next opponent. Historically, Villa has struggled a bit against both. They’ve played Celta four times in UEFA competitions, managing just one win and suffering three losses with a 3-6 goal differential. Their track record against Lille is slightly better but still tight, with one win, one draw, and two losses across four games. Elsewhere in the top 8, Braga is waiting to find out if they will face Ferencváros or Stuttgart, having never played either club in European competition before.
