Argentinian kept his head as tempers raged around him to lead Villa towards an Istanbul showdown with Freiburg
Ollie Watkins running over to the Holte End screaming, fists pumping and head bandaged, will become an iconic image in this part of Birmingham but it was all thanks to the calmness of Emiliano Buendía’s quick feet and even quicker mind to create it. The Argentinian was the one able to keep his cool on a night of aggression and full-blooded football.
It was quintessentially English in this all-domestic Europa League semi-final, in a ground that has hosted Aston Villa since 1897, there was even royalty in the stands. The first quarter felt like a Premier League game on steroids, all thumping noise, tackles, aggression, set pieces, flags and the putrid smell of smoke. The eventual outcome would be down to which side could maintain composure in a fiery atmosphere, and Villa had the benefit of Buendía’s ice-cold mind.
There were mistimed challenges aplenty as each side looked up for the fight. Forest were far more eager to make it into a full-blown battle, as they missed a number of key players. Morato was booked for a late challenge on Morgan Rogers and Jair Cunha stepped on Buendía to earn a notation from the referee Glenn Nyberg. Tensions were even higher on the bench, causing the officials to have words with Unai Emery and flash a couple of cards to backroom staff. Everyone knew what was at stake and were refusing to give an inch.
