Express & Star

'Stunning': 20 of the best pictures to sum up another memorable Aston Villa campaign

We've picked out the most memorable images from what has been a thrilling season for Villa.

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Aston Villa's Amadou Onana (right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday August 17, 2024.
Aston Villa's Amadou Onana (right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday August 17, 2024.

Record £50million signing Amadou Onana celebrates with set-piece coach Austin MacPhee after scoring Villa's first goal in their opening day win at West Ham.

Aston Villa's Jhon Duran scores their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at the King Power Stadium, Leicester. Picture date: Saturday August 31, 2024.
Aston Villa's Jhon Duran scores their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at the King Power Stadium, Leicester. Picture date: Saturday August 31, 2024.

Striker Jhon Duran scores Villa's second goal in their 2-1 win at Leicester. The Colombia international, who came close to leaving the club in the summer, would score what proved to be the winning goal in two of the season's first three matches.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (left) scores his sides second goal of the game to make the score 2-2 during the Premier League match Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Saturday September 14, 2024.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (left) scores his sides second goal of the game to make the score 2-2 during the Premier League match Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Saturday September 14, 2024.

Ollie Watkins scores Villa's second and equalising goal in September's win over Everton. Villa, who had been 2-0 down early on, would go on to win 3-2 courtesy of a stunning goal from Jhon Duran. 

Aston Villa's Belgian midfielder #08 Youri Tielemans celebrates after opening the scoring in front of Young Boys' Swiss goalkeeper #26 David Von Ballmoos during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Young Boys and Aston Villa, at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, on September 17, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Aston Villa's Belgian midfielder #08 Youri Tielemans celebrates after opening the scoring in front of Young Boys' Swiss goalkeeper #26 David Von Ballmoos during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Young Boys and Aston Villa, at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, on September 17, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)

Youri Tielemans celebrates the opening goal in Villa's 3-0 win at Young Boys in their first Champions League match of the season. The goal was Villa's first in Europe's elite club competition since 1983.

Aston Villa's Jhon Duran celebrates after the full-time whistle during the UEFA Champions League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday October 2, 2024.
Aston Villa's Jhon Duran celebrates after the full-time whistle during the UEFA Champions League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday October 2, 2024.

 Jhon Duran celebrates his stunning goal against Bayern Munich which earned Villa victory in their first home Champions League match.

The scoreboard showing a 1-0 score line to Aston Villa during the UEFA Champions League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday October 2, 2024.
The scoreboard showing a 1-0 score line to Aston Villa during the UEFA Champions League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday October 2, 2024.

The scoreboard on a famous night.

Bournemouth's Evanilson scores their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Saturday October 26, 2024.
Bournemouth's Evanilson scores their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Saturday October 26, 2024.

Bournemouth striker Evanilson heads home in the 95th minute as Villa are denied victory at the death. The draw would be the first match of an eight-game winless streak for Unai Emery's team.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez makes a save from Juventus' Francisco Conceicao (right) during the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday November 27, 2024.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez makes a save from Juventus' Francisco Conceicao (right) during the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday November 27, 2024.

Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez makes a stunning save to deny Juventus forward Francisco Conceicao in November's 0-0 draw with the Italian giants.

*Re-transmitting correcting colour of card to red* Aston Villa's Jhon Duran (second from right) is shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor (obscured) during the Premier League match at St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. Picture date: Thursday December 26, 2024.
*Re-transmitting correcting colour of card to red* Aston Villa's Jhon Duran (second from right) is shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor (obscured) during the Premier League match at St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne. Picture date: Thursday December 26, 2024.

Jhon Duran reacts with bemusement after being sent-off for an alleged stamp in the 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at Newcastle. Duran, banned for three matches, would never start another match for Villa again. A month later he was sold to Al-Nassr for a fee which could eventually top £70million.

Aston Villa's Amadou Onana scores their side's first goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Friday January 10, 2025.
Aston Villa's Amadou Onana scores their side's first goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup third round match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Friday January 10, 2025.

Amadou Onana stabs home the equaliser in January's 2-1 FA Cup third round win over West Ham. Villa wore a special all-black kit in a match which marked the club's 150th anniversary.

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers (left) scores their side's fourth goal of the game and his hat-trick during the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday January 29, 2025.
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers (left) scores their side's fourth goal of the game and his hat-trick during the UEFA Champions League, league stage match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday January 29, 2025.

Morgan Rogers completes his hat-trick as Villa beat Celtic 4-2 to finish in the Champions League top-eight and progress straight through to the last-16 of the competition.

Aston Villa's Marco Asensio celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with Marcus Rashford (right) during the Emirates FA Cup fifth round match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Friday February 28, 2025.
Aston Villa's Marco Asensio celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with Marcus Rashford (right) during the Emirates FA Cup fifth round match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Friday February 28, 2025.

Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford celebrate after combining for Villa's first goal in February's fifth round FA Cup win over Cardiff. The pair, signed on loan late in the winter transfer window, helped spark Villa's attack over the second half of the season.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen second leg match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday March 12, 2025.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez reacts during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen second leg match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Wednesday March 12, 2025.

Emi Martinez celebrates as Villa beat Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford scores their side's second goal of the game from a penalty during the Emirates FA Cup quarter final match at Deepdale, Preston. Picture date: Sunday March 30, 2025.
Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford scores their side's second goal of the game from a penalty during the Emirates FA Cup quarter final match at Deepdale, Preston. Picture date: Sunday March 30, 2025.

Marcus Rashford slots home a penalty to put Villa 2-0 up at Preston in March's FA Cup quarter-final. The Manchester United loanee had earlier opened the scoring with his first goal for the club.

Aston Villa's Pau Torres and team-mates react after they concede a third goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, first leg match at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Picture date: Wednesday April 9, 2025.
Aston Villa's Pau Torres and team-mates react after they concede a third goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, first leg match at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Picture date: Wednesday April 9, 2025.

Villa's players react with despair after conceding deep into stoppage time in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain.

Aston Villa's John McGinn scores their side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, second leg match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2025.
Aston Villa's John McGinn scores their side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, second leg match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2025.

John McGinn scores as Villa mount a thrilling fightback in the second leg.

The Prince of Wales (centre) celebrates during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, second leg match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2025.
The Prince of Wales (centre) celebrates during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, second leg match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2025.

Prince William, a regular at European home matches, celebrates as Villa threaten to pull off an incredible comeback.

Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze scores their side's first goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup semi-final match at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday April 26, 2025.
Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze scores their side's first goal of the game during the Emirates FA Cup semi-final match at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday April 26, 2025.

Emi Martinez is beaten as Villa go 1-0 down in their FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley. Villa would go on to lose the tie 3-0.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (left) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with Jacob Ramsey during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth. Picture date: Saturday May 10, 2025.
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins (left) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with Jacob Ramsey during the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth. Picture date: Saturday May 10, 2025.

Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring the goal which made him Villa's all-time record Premier League goalscorer. The strike earned a 1-0 win at Bournemouth which kept Villa firmly in the race for Champions League football.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery takes selfies with fans after the final whistle in the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Friday May 16, 2025.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery takes selfies with fans after the final whistle in the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Friday May 16, 2025.

Unai Emery takes selfies with supporters after Villa's final home match of the season. The 2-0 win over Tottenham set a new club record of 18 consecutive home matches unbeaten in the Premier League.