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Burnley 2-2 Aston Villa: Entertaining draw edges visitors closer to the Champions League

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Clock Icon55 MinutesFootball

Aston Villa took a step towards securing Champions League qualification after playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw with already-relegated Burnley on Sunday. 

Burnley got off to a flying start at Turf Moor when Jaidon Anthony put them ahead after just eight minutes with a calm finish off a rebounded Emiliano Martinez save.

However, Unai Emery's side got themselves back on level terms just before the break through Ross Barkley, who glanced his header home from John McGinn's corner. 

Ollie Watkins had earlier seen a goal disallowed for offside after he turned in Morgan Rogers' cross in the first half, though he was not to be denied at the second time of asking, as he controlled Martinez's punt before delicately guiding past Max Weiss in the 56th minute. 

But Burnley were rewarded for their persistence after a series of missed chances, with Zian Flemming drawing the hosts level just two minutes later to round off a fine move. 

Late drama ensued, though, as the Villans were denied a penalty in second-half stoppage time after Emi Buendia went down under a challenge from Kyle Walker inside the box.  

Zeki Amdouni then squandered a golden chance to snatch an unlikely late winner, while Douglas Luiz also wasted an opportunity at the other end as the points were shared.

Data Debrief: Burnley battle but come up short 

Despite coming from behind to earn a point, Burnley remain without a home win in their last 14 Premier League matches (D5 L9) — equalling the longest such run in the club's history, set between February and October 2021. 

Still, it was an encouraging display from Michael Jackson's side, who edged the expected goals (xG) battle with 1.78 xG to Villa's 1.42 xG and picked up their first Premier League points since March 14. 

For Villa, it marked another show of resilience. The visitors have now won 20 points from losing positions in the league this season – more than any other team in the division and their second-highest total in a single Premier League campaign after 1993-94 (21).