Top Eight Looms as Ross Barkley's Goal Propels Aston Villa Past Leipzig

In a thrilling match on Tuesday, Aston Villa secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig with an 85th-minute goal from Ross Barkley. The win propelled Villa to third place in the table and increased their chances of finishing in the top eight. The visitors got off to a quick start with John McGinn scoring in the third minute, but Leipzig equalized midway through the first half through Lois Openda. Jhon Duran's spectacular goal in the 53rd minute was soon matched by Christoph Baumgartner, leading to a tense final few minutes. However, Barkley made an instant impact as a substitute, scoring just two minutes after coming on to secure the crucial victory for Aston Villa.

The goal, a deflected long-range effort, was Barkley's first in the Champions League and has Villa on track for a top-eight finish in their return to Europe's top competition after 41 years.

McGinn told the UEFA website the goal "felt amazing, because it's been a bit of a dry spell for me. 

"I think over 90 minutes we were the better team -- Leipzig's goals were against the run of play."

"That's the role of the lads on the bench," Barkley told Amazon Prime. "I'm happy to come off the bench and score the winner."

"They all count, don't they?" Barkley said of his deflected winner.

Teams finishing in the top eight qualify directly and avoid an additional set of knockout fixtures.

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The loss, Leipzig's sixth in six Champions League games this season, extinguished the hosts slim hopes of a place in the knockouts.

A "disappointed" Openda told reporters his side needed to "keep fighting... This can happen. We will get another chance for next year and we will need to learn from our mistakes."

Villa travelled to Germany having won two straight Premier League games to break an eight-game winless run.

Leipzig however were very much at the last-chance saloon, with five losses in five putting them on track to miss the knockouts -- a fate they only suffered twice in six seasons under the previous format.

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Returning to his preferred European stage, Villa manager Unai Emery urged his side to "break our limit" and the visitors heeded his words early, opening at break-neck speed. 

McGinn put Villa ahead three minutes in, hammering home from close range after Ollie Watkins nodded a perfect header into his path.

McGinn's goal was just one of many chances inside the opening 15 minutes, including golden opportunities for Watkins and Youri Tielemans as Villa's movement and precision overwhelmed the sluggish hosts. 

Leipzig's young side have lacked confidence this season, particularly in Europe, so they were fortunate when a poor defensive mix-up allowed Openda to level things up after 27 minutes. 

Villa's centre-backs and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez held off a high ball, allowing Openda to slip through, collect it before the bounce and slot calmly into an empty net. 

With Leipzig in the ascendency as half-time came, Emery summoned John Duran from the bench at the break and the Colombian had Villa back in front with an incredible goal eight minutes in. 

Fed by Tielemans on the break, Duran collected the pass and unleashed a dipping shot from well beyond the penalty arc which evaded Leipzig goalie Peter Gulacsi. 

Duran looked to have scored again minutes later but his strike was ruled out for the narrowest of offsides by VAR. 

The hosts hit back seconds later, Openda breaking through on the counter and chipping for Baumgartner, who volleyed Leipzig level.

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Summer arrival Barkley was the visitors' unlikely hero, his deflected shot -- the 31-year-old's first Champions League goal -- finding the net and continuing Villa's incredible return to the European stage.

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)