Aston Villa played in their first Champions League match in 41 years on Wednesday morning Australian time as they travelled to Switzerland to face Young Boys.
Their brilliant 2023-24 Premier League season, where they finished above the likes of Man United, Chelsea, and Tottenham to finish in the top four, gave them a chance to be in Europe's premier club competition.
Whilst most players at the club lack Champions League experience, coach Unai Emery is something of a specialist in European competition and will be looking to transfer some of that luck to his Midlands side.
Here is how they got on during matchday one, with an Aussie featuring on the bench.
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Joe Gauci on bench as Aston Villa win in Champions League return
Socceroos backup keeper Joe Gauci was on the bench as Aston Villa comfortably won 3-0 against Young Boys in their first Champions League game in the 21st century.
The Aussie is the undisputed backup keeper for Villa this season, having displaced Robin Olsen in the role, but facing an uphill battle to displace World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez.
Two goals in nine first half minutes set the tone for Emery's side, with Youri Tielemans opening the scoring with the Belgian midfielder finding space at the back post after a short corner routine, and he made no mistake arrowing a strong shot into the bottom corner.
They were then presented a gift for the second goal as Young Boys centre back Mohamed Camara's attempted backpass to goalkeeper David von Ballmoos led to the goalkeeper being put under pressure and ultimately tackled by Ollie Watkins.
The goal was left gaping for Jacob Ramsey to tap home and double Villa's lead.
Watkins almost got into the scoring act just before the break, but his 44th minute strike was ruled out by VAR due to a handball in the buildup, but the English side were fully in control of the tie.
VAR also denied Villa's super sub Jhon Duran later in the second half, once again due to a handball!
Amadou Onana was the guilty party this time of using his arm in the buildup of the goal, meaning Duran's brilliant curling from the edge of the area counted for nothing.
They would have their third goal in the 86th minute, as Onana received the ball on the run from Tielemans, and with time and space smashed a low drive into the bottom corner to seal a comfortable victory.
Whilst Villa were in control in this tie, they will face a much tougher assignment in their first Champions League match at home, as they host German giants Bayern Munich, with Aussie fans being able to catch the match live and exclusive on Stan Sport!
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