Late controversy against Juventus can’t hide Aston Villa truth under Unai Emery

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Aston Villa and Unai Emery seem to have exhausted their options much sooner than expected in what was once an exciting transformation under the Spanish coach.

If a Villa fan began to gripe about tying with Juventus, you might typically advise them to calm down. However, given the effort it has taken for this team to reach the upper echelons of English football, this is the reality for Emery’s squad.

If they hope to remain in that position, they need to put an end to their concerning stretch of seven games without a victory across all competitions, which reached a disappointing 0-0 tie on Wednesday night. This winless streak is the longest during Emery's time in charge and needs to be halted quickly.

One of the concerning aspects for the Villains is that Emery doesn’t appear to be taking strong measures to address the ongoing issues. He continues to use the same players within the same setup week after week, and opponents of all types have figured out how to effectively counter their play.

A clear adjustment could involve starting Jhon Duran, the Premier League's most frequently used substitute and one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe this summer. It's worth exploring any change to bring some new energy to the team.

Ollie Watkins has scored just one goal in his last seven matches, and Leon Bailey has been quite unreliable lately. Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers seems to have lost the dynamic attacking spark he used to show when playing from deeper positions.

Rogers appeared to secure another memorable victory for Emery's team when he struck a loose ball into the net just before the end of the match. However, referee Jesus Gil Manzano decided that Diego Carlos had committed a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, leading to the goal being disallowed.

Villa experienced a letdown, as they stay undefeated at home in their first-ever Champions League adventure and are still in the race to secure a spot in the knockout stage.

However, Emery possesses the skills and resources to achieve even greater success, as he has shaped this team to reflect his vision. It's time for him to begin making some adjustments, or risk losing the progress he's made so far.

It may be surprising, but Juventus and Aston Villa have faced each other in this competition before. The renowned Old Lady eliminated the defending champions Villa during the quarter-finals, a memorable match that took place 41 years ago—the last time Villa competed at the highest level in Europe.

The glamorous Juventus team of that era, featuring Paolo Rossi at the forefront and Michel Platini effortlessly finding the net from midfield, was a stark contrast to the depleted squad that made its way to Birmingham, struggling with injuries.

Due to the absence of several important players throughout the field, Juventus manager Thiago Motta had to opt for the club's youngest starting lineup in Champions League history. This left him with just four substitutes available on the bench, despite a total of 11 spots.

This situation positioned Villa as clear favorites to break their unfortunate streak without a win. Just a few months back, the Villa team would have taken pleasure in adding to Juve's struggles and securing another notable European victory to match their previous win against Bayern Munich. However, the team's spirit has faded completely, and Emery has been unable to reignite the passion needed to turn things around.

The fans played their role by revealing a Guy Fawkes tifo before the match, contributing to the already intense atmosphere. However, unlike the previous match against Munich, where the supporters were constantly on the edge of their seats, another lackluster performance would be troubling.

Neither team was able to create any significant chances during the first half. The closest we got to a goal was Lucas Digne's free-kick, which hit the top of the crossbar.

At halftime, there were a few boos from the crowd, reflecting their disappointment with the lackluster performance of the home team.

If not for an incredible save by Emi Martinez right after the halftime break, Juventus might have been able to revive their struggling season. Francisco Conceicao, whose father Sergio secured a European title here as part of the Lazio squad that defeated Mallorca in the 1999 Cup Winners’ Cup under Sven-Goran Eriksson, was convinced his header was going to score.

There were multiple perspectives on the situation, but Martinez, who proudly displayed his Yashin Trophy before the game without acting inappropriately with it, managed to grab the ball just before the referee’s timer signaled.

John McGinn had the clearest opportunity for Villa, but Di Gregorio made a great save to deny him in front of the Juve goal.

Duran was called in as Emery's sole backup option, but this time there were no stunning moments to be seen. Villa simply lacks that kind of thrill these days.

Rogers believed victory was within reach as the match neared its end, but Villa was awarded a penalty after a foul on Juve's goalkeeper, Di Gregorio. The Holte End was upset, yet they'll realize, after witnessing their team end up with another draw in just four days, that they didn't truly earn that fortunate break.