Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley Player Ratings: Malen Rated 9/10 as His Brace Secures a Tense 2-1 Victory

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa secured back-to-back Premier League wins after a shaky start to the 2025/26 season. In their 2-1 victory over Burnley, Villa dominated throughout, with only a brief spell after halftime where they seemed slightly tested. The scoreline doesn’t fully reflect their control on the pitch. Ollie Watkins’ below-par performance was the only blemish in an otherwise strong display, signaling that Villa have rediscovered their form and are building momentum.

The first half was all Villa. They controlled possession and created numerous chances. It felt like a goal was inevitable, and it arrived on the 25th minute. A brilliant piece of play saw Aston Villa forward Malen give the hosts a deserved lead.Burnley struggled to get a foothold in the game, frequently caught offside and gave away cheap fouls, which we thought were one of the decisive factors in the game.

The second half saw Villa double their lead, again through the magnificent Malen. At 2-0, it seemed like game over. However, credit to Burnley, they didn't give up. A late goal from a substitute made the final minutes incredibly tense but in the end, it was Unai Emery's Aston Villa who won the match.

Here are Aston Villa Vs Burnley Player Ratings

Aston Villa Player Ratings vs Burnley

Here are Aston Villa Player Ratings vs Burnley

Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martínez - 7.0: A relatively quiet day for the Villa keeper for most of the game. He made a key save from Josh Cullen in the first half. From our perspective, his distribution was excellent, maintaining a 95% pass accuracy. He couldn't do much about the goal conceded. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

Defenders

Matty Cash - 6.5: A mixed bag from the right-back. He got forward well and put in a decent cross. However, he was caught offside and lost possession a few times. He put in the work defensively before being substituted late on. A decent shift but not his most influential game.

Ezri Konsa - 7.5: We thought Konsa was a rock at the back. He was strong in the duel, winning six of his seven contests. His passing was near-perfect, and he even forced a great save from a header. A very composed and authoritative display from the centre-back.

Pau Torres - 7.5: Another commanding performance in central defense. He made an impressive six clearances and was excellent with his distribution, especially his long balls. What stood out to us was his seven ball recoveries, snuffing out danger effectively. He was a key reason Burnley struggled to create clear chances for so long.

Lucas Digne - 8.0: An excellent all-round display from the left-back. He was a constant creative outlet, creating four chances and delivering some wicked crosses. Defensively, he was solid, winning most of his duels. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise superb performance. From our perspective, he was one of Villa's best players.

Midfielders

Boubacar Kamara - 8.0: He was an absolute machine in midfield. Kamara dominated the aerial battles, winning seven of them. He provided the assist for the opening goal and created another chance. His nine duel wins and seven ball recoveries highlight his immense contribution both defensively and offensively. A top-tier midfield performance.

Lamare Bogarde - 6.5: A steady and tidy performance in the middle of the park. His pass accuracy was an incredible 97%, keeping the play ticking over nicely. We felt he could have been more adventurous, but he did his job effectively. He drew three fouls, showing his ability to hold onto the ball under pressure.

John McGinn - 6.5: The captain was busy and energetic as always before his substitution. He created a chance and showed his usual tenacity. However, we noticed he lost possession a few times and his influence waned slightly as the game went on. A typical hardworking performance, but not his most impactful.

Forwards

Donyell Malen - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. Two goals, two clinical finishes. What more can you ask for? His movement was a nightmare for the Burnley defense. Every time he got the ball in a dangerous area, it felt like something would happen. A truly match-winning performance that secured the three points for Aston Villa. The highest-rated player on the pitch, and for good reason.

Morgan Rogers - 8.0: An impressive outing from the attacker. He grabbed a crucial assist for the second goal and was a constant threat. He took three shots, testing the keeper, and worked incredibly hard off the ball. We were impressed by his six duel wins and all-action display. A very bright performance.

Ollie Watkins - 6.0: It was a frustrating evening for the main striker. He worked hard and won his aerial duels but struggled to make a real impact. He lost possession 11 times and missed a clear chance. His effort is never in question, but it just didn't click for him in front of goal tonight.

Substitutes

Emiliano Buendía - 6.0: Came on for Watkins but didn't have much of an impact on the game.

Evann Guessand - 6.0: Replaced McGinn and provided fresh legs but little else of note.

Victor Lindelöf - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Ross Barkley - N/A: A late cameo appearance.

Manager

U. Emery Etxegoien - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly for 75 minutes. The team was set up to attack and they did so effectively, creating plenty of chances. However, the nervy finish after conceding suggests his team still needs to learn how to close games out comfortably. A win is a win, and he got his tactics राइट for the most part.

Burnley Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

Here are Burnley Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

Goalkeeper

Martin Dúbravka - 6.5: He was a busy man. He made five saves, some of which were excellent, to keep his team in the game. He couldn't be faulted for either of Malen's clinical goals. His distribution was a bit shaky, but his shot-stopping prevented a much heavier defeat for Burnley.

Defenders

Kyle Walker - 5.0: A very tough night for the defender. He lost possession an alarming 26 times and struggled to contain Villa's attack. While he made a few tackles, he was often second best in his duels. From our perspective, it was a performance he will want to forget quickly.

Axel Tuanzebe - 5.5: He struggled against the physicality and movement of the Villa forwards. He lost seven duels and looked shaky at times. He made a couple of clearances and blocks but it was a difficult evening for him. A challenging day at the office.

Maxime Estève - 6.0: Probably the most composed of the Burnley backline. His pass accuracy was a perfect 100%, which is remarkable under pressure. He made three interceptions and was positionally aware. However, being part of a defense that conceded twice and looked vulnerable means his rating can't be too high.

Quilindschy Hartman - 7.0: A good showing from the full-back, especially going forward. He provided the assist for Burnley's goal with a great cross. He was one of the few bright sparks for his team, creating two chances. Defensively, he was okay, but his attacking contribution was his main strength.

Midfielders

Josh Cullen - 7.5: The Burnley captain led by example. He was everywhere, making a massive eight tackles and recovering the ball 11 times. He drove his team forward and even tested the keeper with a shot from distance. A fantastic battling performance, full of heart and determination.

Florentino - 7.0: A solid partner for Cullen in midfield. He was strong in the tackle and tidy in possession, with a 93% pass accuracy. He won seven duels and made some important interceptions. He provided a strong shield инфекция of the defense.

Josh Laurent - 5.5: He struggled to get into the game. While he made six interceptions, his impact on the ball was minimal. He was a bit too passive and was substituted in the second half. Not his best game.

Forwards

Jaidon Anthony - 6.0: He worked hard and showed some nice touches. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork. However, he lost possession too often and was subbed off before he could make a real impact. A mixed performance with moments of promise.

Loum Tchaouna - 5.5: A very quiet game for the attacker. He was caught offside and struggled to get involved in the play. He was subbed off having made little impression on the match. A disappointing outing.

Lyle Foster - 5.0: It was a frustrating night for Foster. He was isolated upfront and was flagged for offside twice. He committed three fouls and picked up a yellow card. He was unable to offer any real threat before being substituted.

Substitutes

Armando Broja - 6.0: Added a bit more presence up front but was caught offside.

Lesley Ugochukwu - 7.0: Made a great impact, scoring a well-taken header to give his team hope.

Zian Flemming - N/A: Came on too late to be rated.

Manager

S. Parker - 6.0: His initial setup was too passive, and his team was deservedly 2-0 down. However, his substitutions were positive and one of them scored, which shows he can react to a game situation. The late fightback was commendable, but the damage was already done. He will need to get his team starting games better.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Malen