Fixtures
- West Ham United Vs. Aston Villa – Sat, Aug 17th 2024, 17:30
Pau Torres saluted “an important victory to start the season with confidence” after Aston Villa triumphed 2-1 at West Ham United.
Villa made a perfect start to the 2024/25 campaign as they claimed all three points in east London, with victory coming courtesy of substitute Jhon Durán’s winner in the latter stages.
Debutant Amadou Onana handed the visitors a dream start when he headed home Youri Tielemans’ corner in the fourth minute, only for Lucas Paqueta’s penalty to level matters before Durán’s late winner.
It was an impressive and fully deserved victory for the Villans, whose strength in depth was evident throughout the matchday 20.
“It was an important victory to start the season with confidence,” Torres told VillaTV.
“We did a good job in pre-season but the results weren’t good.
“Here we needed this victory, away, it’s always difficult.
“We started the game very well, the first 30 minutes was really, really good. And then they drew level.
“So, we spoke at half-time to keep going, continue with more rhythm and the chances will arrive for us.
“Fortunately, we scored the second goal with Jhon Durán and it was an amazing victory.”
The triumph was Villa’s first opening-weekend win in the Premier League since beating Sheffield United 1-0 in 2020.
It was also our maiden success at London Stadium having been winless in the club’s previous nine Premier League away matches against West Ham, last triumphing in a 2-1 victory at Upton Park in April 2011.
It was also only a second win in 13 Premier League meetings against the Hammers.
And Torres stressed how important it was to claim all three points on the opening day.
“Yes, against a good team and a good coach as well. I know him from Spain,” he added.
“I think West Ham will be fighting for important things at the end of the season, so, for us, it’s very, very important to start with this victory.”
