Jackson and Barkley doubles send Aston Villa to 6-0 home win over Fenerbahce
Aston Villa defeated Fenerbahce 6-0 at Villa Park in a European match on 14 October 2026, recording their biggest victory in Europe and their first home win of the season.
The Holte End alternated between acclaiming Villa’s performers and jeering Mason Greenwood, whose every touch was booed, while Prince William watched from the stands. Greenwood was playing his first game in England since Manchester United’s 1-0 win against West Ham in January 2022; he was charged in 2022 with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, charges the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew and new material came to light, and he had denied the charges. He had appeared for Marseille in a friendly against Villa 15 months ago when he allegedly spat at Amadou Onana and had a spat with Tyrone Mings. “Greenwood, Greenwood, what’s the score,” echoed around the three-quarters full Villa Park amid other chants.
Johan Manzambi opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a deflected shot to celebrate his 21st birthday, his second goal for the club after Mattéo Guendouzi had inadvertently headed on John McGinn’s cross following a short corner. Zion Suzuki twice produced early saves from Vedat Muriqi while Villa continued to create numerous chances.
Nicolas Jackson scored twice before half-time, first finishing from Boubacar Kamara’s pass from the edge of the penalty area just after the half-hour mark and then repeating the strike six minutes before the interval. In between those strikes Oguz Aydin hit the bar, and Villa’s 11th successive home win in European competitions already looked assured.
Ibrahim Mbaye provided energy down the left in the second half, sprinting from one penalty area to the other and combining with Jackson before seeing a shot well saved. Manzambi was fouled by Ismail Yuksek midway through the second period to earn a penalty, which Ross Barkley converted to make it 4-0.
Barkley added a second goal with a deflected shot to make it 5-0, and Suzuki had to tip Aydin’s fierce effort over the bar five minutes from time. Tammy Abraham converted Alysson’s cross for Villa’s sixth goal, and the cheers for the goals were matched by jeers for Greenwood when he was substituted.
Villa’s recent scoring run contrasts with their slow start — the team scored only once in their opening four games but have now netted at least three times in four of their past six matches; the second half was played at a reduced tempo as Villa appeared intent on preserving a clean sheet following earlier home struggles when they conceded four of their five goals in three previous winless home games in front of the empty North Stand, and fans’ thoughts turned to Saturday evening’s trip to Newcastle United and the task of addressing a difficult start to the league season.
Should Villa beat Viking next Wednesday, as would be expected, they would be on their way to likely qualification.