Game #3479
Wednesday, 1 March 1978
Attendance: 49,619
Drew
UEFA Cup Quarter Final
Quarter Final
Barcelona
LWWLD
Villa Park
Barcelona, for all their talent, body check and foul their way to a two goal lead but their rugged tactics backfire as Villa hit two goals in the last five minutes to draw the tie and Barcelona’s bleating and deeply hypocritical appeals for a foul on the ‘keeper for John Deehan’s equaliser are rightly met with short shrift from the referee.
Aston Villa
2-2
FC Barcelona
Assist(s) | Gordon Smith | 85' | Allan Evans | 88' |
KEY MAN
RELATED MATCHES
MATCH TIMELINE
1’ Debut, David Evans
20’ Goal, 1-0, (Barcelona), John Cruyff
HT Aston Villa 0-1 Barcelona
63’ Sub off, David Evans, Sub on, Allan Evans DEBUT
80’ Goal, 2-0, (Barcelona), Zuviria
85’ Goal, 2-1, Ken McNaught, Assist by Gordon Smith
88’ Goal, 2-2, John Deehan, Assist by Allan Evans
FT Aston Villa 2-2 Barcelona
ON THIS DAY
Ron Saunders' Villa score two late goals to draw the UEFA Cup quarter final first leg against Barcelona ahead of a tough return match at the Camp Nou. Meanwhile, Saunders hands debuts to defender David Evans, 19, who joined from West Bromwich Schools in July 1974 and centre back Allan Evans, 21, after his move from Dunfermline Athletic for a fee of £30,000 in May 1977.
Aston Villa
Barcelona
European Cup / Champions League: ❌
La Liga Champions: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆🏆🏆
Copa del Rey Winners: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 🏆🏆🏆
Last Trophy: 1978-79
FIXTURE HISTORY
Previous 5 vs. Barcelona: None
FIXTURE DETAILS
Season | 1977-78 |
Matchday | #38 |
Manager Game | #197 |
Wednesday, 1 March 1978
MATCH SUMMARY
Manager | Ron Saunders |
Referee | César Correia, Portugal |
FT Result | Drew |
FT Score | 2-2 |
Last 5 Games | LWWLD |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: César Correia | 🇵🇹 |
Previous 5:
Last Match:
Cards:
CARDS
TEAM NEWS
Ron Saunders hands a surprise debut to David Evans and recalls John Gregory with John Gidman and Tommy Craig dropping out.
TEAM STATS
Starting XI Average Age
| 24.35 |
Oldest Player |
GK Jimmy Rimmer | 30.07 |
Youngest Player |
M Gordon Cowans | 19.36 |
MANAGER
MANAGER
Ron Saunders
Aston Villa
GK Jimmy Rimmer |
D David Evans |
CB Ken McNaught |
FB Gordon Smith |
M John Gregory |
M Leighton Phillips |
M Gordon Cowans |
M Dennis Mortimer |
W Frank Carrodus |
F Brian Little |
F John Deehan |
Barcelona
Artola, Ramos, Migueli, De la Cruz, Rexach, Olmo, Cruyff (g) (Macizo), Coastas (Juanjo), Asensi, Zuviría (g), Fortes. Manager: Rinus Michels.
SUBSTITUTES
CB Allan Evans for D David Evans | 63' |
SUBSTITUTES
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
GK Jake Findlay |
CB Charlie Young |
FB Mick Buttress |
M Ivor Linton |
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
SQUAD STATS
MATCHDAY SQUAD
UNAVAILABLE
Injury | 4 |
John Robson |
Alex Cropley |
Andy Gray |
John Gidman |
UNAVAILABLE
Not Recorded
Player Abbreviations:
GK : Goalkeeper
LB, RB, FB : Left Back, Right Back, Full Back
CB, D : Centre Back, Defender
M, W : Midfielder. Winger
F, CF : Forward, Centre Forward
🟢 : Debut 🔴 : Final Game
Symbols:
⚽ | Goal
🔥 | Assist
🔁 | Substitution
🟨 | Booking
🟥 | Sending off
🆘 | Poor refereeing performance
DEBUT APPEARANCES
FINAL APPEARANCES
MATCH STATS
Not recorded
TABLE
PROGRAMME
MATCHDAY QUOTES
"It is important to me that I give the English public something to remember me by.
"I cannot imagine the Aston Villa game being more difficult than the game against Ipswich. But if the score against us is more than 3-0 it will he impossible.
"The Spanish players like playing against foreign opposition.
“It gives them a better chance to express themselves and show their skills.
“Aston Villa have built up a reputation in Spain.
“They are now very well known by the Spanish people after their victory over Athletic Bilbao.
“They have got a lot of respect now."
Johan Cruyff.
*Birmingham Daily Post*
Thursday, 2 March 1978