BIRMINGHAM — Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Aston Villa thrashed Fenerbahce 6-0 at Villa Park to secure the biggest European win in club history and a first home victory this season in the Champions League. The commanding result leaves Villa well placed to reach the knockout phase, with record £65m signing Jackson leading a clinical display that extends the club's revival to just one defeat in its last seven games.
Johan Manzambi opened the scoring before Jackson's first-half double put Villa in complete control, despite two important saves from Zion Suzuki for the Turkish visitors. Ross Barkley added a double, including a penalty as the pre-arranged taker, and Tammy Abraham tapped in late to complete the rout in front of the skeleton of the rebuilding North Stand. Villa last scored so many in a 6-1 win over Brighton three years ago and had previously put five past Hibernian in the Europa Conference League in 2023.
Unai Emery said the margin flattered his side but stressed the importance of the performance. "They (Fenerbahce) didn't deserve 6-0 but for us it was very important how we achieved the first win at home and how we managed with different players, our progression and step forward," Emery said. "There is still a lot of work to do and we need time, we are progressively getting better and it was a good step forward. In the Champions League the three points are important. We want to be a protagonist in the Champions League. Now the clear objective is against Newcastle because of the lack of points in the Premier League." Jackson, who was denied a hat trick when Barkley took the spot kick, added: "I wanted to take it but the most important thing is we win. Hopefully next time I'll get the hat-trick. It's very important. We haven't won at home. Our keeper is amazing."
The win ended Villa's winless start at home after three games without a victory, following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Brentford that ensured the club avoided a third straight home league defeat under Emery for the first time since February 2024. Emery said the North Stand rebuild had impacted the side, which had scored only once attacking that end this season before Tuesday, while Leon Goretzka made his debut as a late substitute and Ibraham Mbaye found space to exploit. Former Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov told TNT: "I think that's what Emery has been talking about with the potential of this team and what they can do. There's been a lot of questions from the start of the season, even for this game as well. People asking how far they can go in this competition but it seems as though they're clicking together and there's a flow to their game."
Jackson, 25, arrived to replace Ollie Watkins after his £50m switch to Al-Hilal and has now scored four goals in three games and five for the season. He helped Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga last season on loan from Chelsea and was reunited with Emery, who gave him his debut at Villarreal and saw him score the final goal of his tenure there, a last-minute winner against Almeria in October 2022. "Jackson is doing a fantastic job. He's scoring, he's working defensively [and] helping the team," Emery said. Jackson added: "He [Johan Manzambi] is a top player. I'm really happy we're playing together." Villa now turns to Saturday's trip to Newcastle, with Matthias Jaissle's side having shipped four against Coventry on Monday to sit with the joint-worst defensive record in the Premier League.