AZ Alkmaar 1-4 Aston Villa

Aston Villa put in a superb display to record a stunning 4-1 victory at in-form AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa Conference League.  

Leon Bailey fired Villa into a 13^th-minute lead before Youri Tielemans doubled the visitors’ advantage midway through the first half at AZ Stadion.

Villa were in dreamland early in the second period as Ollie Watkins converted from close range to make it 3-0 and captain John McGinn added a fourth in the 56^th minute.

Ibrahim Sadiq replied shortly after the hour mark for an AZ side who, having reached the semi-finals of the competition last season, went into the encounter flying high in second place in Eredivisie and having previously tasted defeat just once this term.

But it proved mere consolation as Unai Emery’s side sealed a hugely impressive triumph in the Netherlands to move on to six points in Group E, with the return visit of Dutch opponents AZ to Villa Park next up in Europe.

Bailey, Tielemans, Diego Carlos and Clément Lenglet were all named in Villa’s starting line-up as Emery made four changes from last weekend’s Premier League win over West Ham United.

And it was Bailey who opened the scoring for the visitors after just 13 minutes, drilling home a superb low finish past Mat Ryan as the ball broke his way on the edge of the area.

It was only the fourth goal Alkmaar had conceded on home soil this season, yet it was 2-0 after just 23 minutes as Villa doubled their advantage.

Skipper McGinn found Tielemans with an inch-perfect pass and the Belgium international took a touch in the box before firing through the legs of AZ ‘keeper Ryan.

Villa received a let-off shortly afterwards as the hosts pounced on a defensive mistake but in-form AZ striker Vangelis Pavlidis could only send his effort over the crossbar.  

And it was the Villans who held their two-goal advantage until the half-time break.

The hosts made a strong start to the second half but it was Emery’s side who struck six minutes after the restart to make it 3-0.

Bailey was sent clear down the left, cut inside smartly and saw his strike parried by Ryan into the path of Watkins, who converted into an empty net from six yards.

Martínez made a strong save from Pavlidis at the other end as the hosts searched for a route back into the encounter.

But it was 4-0 with 56 minutes on the clock as Bailey, down the right, slipped the ball across for McGinn to convert with a smart finish past Ryan from close range.

Sadiq ensured the hosts got the scoresheet in the 65^th minute when he fired home an angled drive.

AZ substitute Tiago Dantas then saw his strike deflected wide as the hosts rallied in search of further reward.

But Villa, in the first-ever meeting between the two sides, secured all three points in style to move five matches unbeaten in all competitions.