Leon Bailey netted his first Premier League goal of the season to help Aston Villa secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Villa Park. The result lifted Unai Emery’s side to eighth in the table, providing a much-needed morale boost after a challenging end to 2024.
Villa took the lead through a moment of brilliance from Ross Barkley, who unleashed a stunning strike to ignite the home crowd. However, the mood quickly dampened when Leicester’s Stephy Mavididi slammed home an equalizer, punishing a lapse in Villa’s defense and reigniting hope for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s struggling team.
The turning point came late in the match when Emery turned to his bench. Summer signing Ian Maatsen entered the fray in the 76th minute and made an immediate impact. The dynamic substitute raced into the box and delivered a precise assist to Bailey, who coolly slotted the ball past the Leicester goalkeeper to restore Villa’s lead.
For Villa, the victory offers a sigh of relief after closing 2024 with a disappointing draw against Brighton and a loss to Newcastle. Although the win only moves them to eighth in the standings, it bolsters their confidence heading into the second half of the season.
Meanwhile, Leicester’s woes deepen, as they have now suffered five consecutive defeats under Van Nistelrooy. Despite flashes of resilience, including Mavididi’s equalizer, the Foxes remain precariously close to the relegation zone. With Wolves showing improved form, the two-point gap keeping Leicester out of the drop zone could widen unless immediate improvements are made.
Villa Park celebrated a much-needed three points, while Leicester’s survival battle grows increasingly urgent.
