'More than we deserved' - Aston Villa boss on Barcelona defeat in the Champions League - AVillaFan.com - Aston Villa Fan Site

Aston Villa boss admitted that their defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League was a real eye-opener of his team's level. Aston Villa's visit to Catalan region in the Champions League matchday four did not end as expected.

They were well beaten 3-0 in the Spotify Nou Camp. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha's brace put an end to Villa's attempt to snatch a point on the road.

The result apparently shows how the level of a Europa League winner is not exactly at the expected level for competing well in the Champions League. Emery shared his view on this defeat as reported in BBC.

"Overall, we are competing fantastically in the Champions League, although playing the match we played we have work to do to get to this level [of Barcelona]. We were sometimes achieving it and close to scoring goals but we must be ruthless in the attacking third, 3-0 is maybe more than we deserved, but we accept the defeat.

Barcelona was, as expected, dominant in the game and they did not take long to open the scoring within seven minutes following Joao Gomes' error in the six yard box. The Brazilian gave away the pass to Yamal who had no difficulty to find the back of the net into the far corner.

Villa had at least two chances to find the equaliser. The first was from the tactical set piece work.

Matty Cash lashed out the ball into the far side of the post following the long pass from the short corner kick on the other side of the flank. Then, Johan Manzambi's attempt to penetrate Barcelona's backline from the left side was not successful either.

In the second half, the Catalan side was even more dominant and added their lead with Raphinha's brace. The Lion's chance to score a lifeline from Leon Goretzka's header only hit the post.

Why Villa's level is still below Unai Emery's attempt to raise Villa's level did not appear to materialise yet, at least for now. His tactics in trying to draw Barcelona's high pressing in their own penalty box eventually became a huge blunder."