Bayern Munich Endure New UEFA Champions League Low With Vincent Kompany After 2,562 Days

Bayern Munich's unbeaten run in Champions League group games, dating back to 2017, came to an end with a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Wednesday. The defeat suggested a potential new era of European success for the English side. Villa recreated their historic victory against Bayern in 1982, when they won the European Cup, during their first home match at this elite level in over four decades. This impressive turnaround for Villa can be credited to the influence of manager Unai Emery, who has transformed the club from relegation strugglers in the Premier League to a top-four finisher within just two years. Villa's resurgence has been remarkable and has placed them as serious contenders in Europe's top competitions.

Now two games into their first ever experience since the European Cup was rebranded to the Champions League, they are one of just seven sides with maximum points.

Bayern's previous group stage defeat, 41 games ago, also came at the hands of Emery when in charge of Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spaniard's time in France and as Arsene Wenger's successor at Arsenal did not end well.

However, he has a track record of lifting up European football's middleweights to trade blows with the continent's giants.

Emery won three consecutive Europa Leagues at Sevilla and lifted the competition for a fourth time with Villarreal in 2021 to deliver the club's first ever major trophy.

The next season Villarreal reached the Champions League semi-finals, knocking out Juventus and Bayern along the way.

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Villa are now reaping the rewards of Emery's shrewd tactical mind and ability to polish rough diamonds.

- 'Moving forward' -

Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham were among the sides with bigger budgets that were beaten into fourth place by Villa in the Premier League last season.

In doing so, Emery's men beat both title contenders Manchester City and Arsenal 1-0 at Villa Park in December and repeated that trick against a Bayern team that arrived in England in free-scoring form.

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Bayern were stifled by Villa's organisation and hit with the sucker punch by super sub Jhon Duran.

The Colombian lobbed Manuel Neuer 11 minutes from time to score his fifth goal this season after coming off the bench.

Emi Martinez was then needed to make two huge saves in the dying moments as a Bayern side that had averaged over four goals a game since Vincent Kompany took charge were shut out.

"It's a statement but there are still a lot of games to play. We want to qualify in the top eight," said Argentina's World Cup winner Martinez.

"This is the loudest Villa Park that I've heard since I joined the club, that's for sure.

"It's a club that is moving forward. I love playing here, I love the fans. This is a win for them."

Emery's gameplan even won the seal of royal approval. He was afforded an audience with Villa fan Prince William, who was among the more than 40,000 crowd celebrating a famous night.

"I told him the best moment we can pass is days like today," said Emery of his meeting with Britain's future king.

"I don't know where (Villa can go) but we are going to try to enjoy the way. Today we (will) remember how we played, who we played and the Champions League final from 42 years ago. It was a special day."

Forward Morgan Rogers was playing in the Championship earlier this year for Middlesbrough, but is another who Emery has moulded into a player now taking the Champions League in his stride.

"It's a pinch me moment," Rogers said of his meteoric rise. "We're not here to just compete, we're here to try and win games."

In 1982 Bayern legends Paul Breitner and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge were among those stunned by Villa's upstarts in Rotterdam.

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Over four decades on, the German giants were left to lick their wounds again on a night that will be long remembered in the Midlands.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)