Aston Villa Defeat Tottenham 2-1 Victory Keeps Top-Four Hopes Alive

NORTH LONDON– Aston Villa came to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with purpose and left with a sharp 2-1 win. The result sends Spurs out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage and means Unai Emery’s side has knocked them out in this competition for a second season running.

For Thomas Frank and Tottenham, it was a tough one to take. Spurs improved after the break and showed more fight, but the damage was done in a flat first half. Villa, on the other hand, looked calm and well-drilled, with the bite in front of goal that has come to define them under Emery.

First half: Villa strike twice with ruthless finishing

The match started at a good pace, yet Villa settled quicker. They were forced into an early change when Boubacar Kamara went off injured after nine minutes, but it didn’t disrupt them. Youri Tielemans came on and helped Villa control the game straight away.

Villa took the lead in the 22nd minute. Tielemans helped move the ball quickly, finding Donyell Malen, who flicked it into space for Emiliano Buendía. The Argentine drove his shot high into the net, giving Guglielmo Vicario no chance.

Spurs never really got going in midfield, and the home support grew restless. The mood turned into loud boos in the third minute of stoppage time. Mathys Tel gave the ball away deep in his own half, Malen carried it forward, then Buendía slipped a pass into Morgan Rogers. Rogers kept his cool and made it 2-0 right before the break.

Second half: Spurs respond, but Villa see it out

Tottenham came out with more intent after half-time, and the change was clear. Their pressure brought a goal in the 54th minute. Randal Kolo Muani muscled his way to the ball in midfield and drove towards the area, then found Wilson Odobert to the right. Odobert hit a low shot across the keeper and into the far corner.

The stadium woke up, and Spurs pushed hard for a spell. They won a string of corners and forced Marco Bizot into a couple of solid saves.

Emery kept Villa steady with smart changes, including Ollie Watkins and Jadon Sancho, which helped stretch the pitch and slow Spurs’ momentum. After the final whistle, tempers spilled over. Morgan Rogers and Joao Palhinha got involved in a flare-up that needed players and staff to pull them apart. It summed up a tense afternoon for the Spurs, and it left fans asking where the season goes from here.

Match statistics and standings.

It was a cup tie, but the Premier League table still tells part of the story. Villa are right in the title race, while Tottenham are trying to work their way back into the top half.

Premier League standings (as of Jan 11, 2026)

Match highlights at a glance

• 22’ GOAL (AVL): Emiliano Buendía finishes a slick move after help from Tielemans and Malen.
• 45+3’ GOAL (AVL): Morgan Rogers makes it 2-0 just before half-time.
• 54’ GOAL (TOT): Wilson Odobert scores after a strong break from Kolo Muani.
• 83’ RETURN: Dominic Solanke makes his first appearance since August after a long spell out.
• FT: A post-match scuffle breaks out as emotions run high.

What’s next for both clubs

Aston Villa move into the fourth round and will try to keep their FA Cup run going while staying in the Premier League title chase. Emery’s side looks like they know how to win in different ways.

Tottenham now has one clear focus: the league. With one win in their last seven in all competitions, Frank is under pressure to steady results quickly. Dominic Solanke’s return offers some hope, but Spurs need more than hope to climb the table.

Both clubs now head into the next few weeks with very different schedules and very different moods.

Tottenham Hotspur: Full focus on league form

With cup football off the calendar, Spurs face a big stretch of Premier League matches, with derbies and tough opponents close together.

The big test: The North London Derby against Arsenal on February 22 looms large. By then, supporters will want to see Spurs well clear of 14th.

Aston Villa: Balancing Europe, the league, and the FA Cup

Villa’s schedule stays busy. They are still in the Premier League title mix, they’re through in the FA Cup, and they also have Europa League fixtures to manage.

The challenge: A quick turnaround between the trip to Istanbul (Fenerbahçe) and the visit to Newcastle will test Villa’s squad depth. Their recent form suggests they’ll fancy it.

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