“I am so, so happy,” said Unai Emery after Aston Villa’s 4-3 victory over Sunderland. The match took place at Villa Park on April 19, 2026. Ollie Watkins led the charge with two goals for Villa.
Chris Rigg scored for Sunderland, marking their first Premier League goal since May 2017. The game featured a total of seven goals, showcasing an intense back-and-forth battle. Trai Hume and Wilson Isidor scored two quick goals to equalize at 3-3.
Tammy Abraham netted the winning goal in injury time, sealing the match for Aston Villa. With this win, Aston Villa is now 10 points clear of sixth-place Chelsea and has qualified for the Champions League.
Sunderland remains in contention for European qualification, sitting on 46 points. They need one more point to secure their Premier League status.
The match atmosphere was relaxed as both teams had achieved their season goals before kick-off. “I’m disappointed because we had the opportunity to win the game,” said Régis Le Bris after the loss.
Aston Villa will next face Fulham on Saturday. Sunderland will host Nottingham Forest on Friday.
