Spurs escape relegation zone with 2-1 win at Villa Park, De Zerbi's side show fight

Key facts

• Tottenham won 2-1 at Aston Villa on Sunday, moving out of the relegation zone to 17th place with 37 points.
• Conor Gallagher scored in the 12th minute and Richarlison doubled the lead in the 26th minute at Villa Park.
• Emiliano Buendia headed a consolation goal for Villa in the sixth minute of stoppage time (90+6).
• Aston Villa made seven changes from their Europa League semifinal first-leg defeat to Nottingham Forest.
• Villa have lost three consecutive matches in all competitions and have not scored in 270 minutes.
• Spurs are one point above 18th-placed West Ham, who lost 3-0 at Brentford on Saturday.
• Tottenham have back-to-back league wins for the first time since the opening two games of the season.
• Villa remain fifth on 58 points, level with Liverpool, but trail on goal difference and are six points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth.

Villa Park turnaround lifts Spurs out of bottom three

Tottenham Hotspur produced arguably their finest performance of the season to beat Champions League-chasing Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park on Sunday, climbing out of the relegation zone for the first time in weeks. The win, secured by first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison, moved Roberto De Zerbi’s side to 17th place with 37 points, one point clear of West Ham United, who lost 3-0 at Brentford a day earlier. Villa, who had made seven changes from their Europa League semifinal first-leg defeat at Nottingham Forest, were second best from the opening whistle. The hosts’ third consecutive loss in all competitions extended their goalless run to 270 minutes, a stark contrast to the form that had them challenging for a top-four place earlier in the season.

Gallagher and Richarlison strike early to silence Villa Park

Spurs took the lead in the 12th minute when Conor Gallagher found the net, and Richarlison doubled the advantage with a headed goal in the 26th minute. The Brazilian’s strike prompted an exuberant celebration from De Zerbi, who sprinted onto the pitch in his pristine white hi-tops, followed by his coach Marcello Quinto. The visitors’ pressing and ball recovery across the pitch evoked the style De Zerbi cultivated at Brighton, and Villa struggled to cope. Unai Emery’s side, despite fielding a much-changed lineup, were expected to mount a second-half resurgence but rarely threatened until stoppage time.

Buendia’s late header sets up nervy finish but Spurs hold on

Emiliano Buendia pulled one back for Villa deep into stoppage time, heading in Matty Cash’s left-footed cross in the sixth minute of five added minutes. The goal came too late to deny Spurs a vital victory, however, and the final whistle confirmed Tottenham’s second straight league win — their first back-to-back victories since the opening two games of the season. De Zerbi’s men now have three games remaining: a home match against Leeds United on Monday, May 13, followed by a trip to Chelsea on May 19. Villa, meanwhile, must regroup quickly for Thursday’s Europa League semifinal second leg against Nottingham Forest, trailing 1-0 from the first leg.

Emery rues slow start but insists season remains ‘fantastic’

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery acknowledged his side’s poor first-half display but defended their overall campaign. “Today we faced a team that played fantastically and they competed fantastically,” Emery said. “In the first half we didn’t perform well, in the second half we reacted but it was not enough.” Emery noted that Villa remain level on points with Liverpool on 58, and that reaching the Europa League semifinals represents a significant achievement. “The supporters forget we are having a fantastic season,” he said. “We are on the same points as Liverpool on 58.” Villa’s advantage in the race for a Champions League spot — they are six points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth — remains intact, but their form has dipped at a critical juncture.

Survival battle intensifies as West Ham face tough run-in

Tottenham’s victory has reshaped the relegation fight. West Ham, who slipped to 18th after their heavy defeat at Brentford, now trail Spurs by one point with a goal difference 10 worse than their north London rivals. The Hammers face a daunting trip to Arsenal before hosting Leeds United on the final day, while Spurs have a potentially pivotal home clash with Leeds on May 13. Spurs’ turnaround under De Zerbi has been dramatic: after losing their first two league games of the season, they have now won two in a row and appear to have rediscovered the pressing identity that made the Italian’s Brighton sides so effective. The question is whether they can sustain it through the final three matches.

Villa’s European dream hangs in balance ahead of Forest rematch

Aston Villa’s focus now shifts to Thursday’s Europa League semifinal second leg at home against Nottingham Forest, where they must overturn a 1-0 deficit. Emery, who has not played a match of this magnitude in his three years at the club, urged perspective. “It’s a different match, a different competition,” he said. “We’re in the semi-finals and of course we are going to enjoy the match and enjoy the process.” A victory in the Europa League would offer Villa an alternative route to the Champions League, but their domestic form — three straight losses and a 270-minute goal drought — raises concerns. After Thursday, they travel to relegated Burnley on Sunday before the season finale. The margin for error is shrinking.

De Zerbi’s imprint visible as Spurs find identity in crisis

Roberto De Zerbi’s influence on Tottenham was unmistakable at Villa Park. The way his team pressed high, won duels, and recovered possession across the pitch mirrored the system he perfected at Brighton. For a side that had been in the relegation zone, it was a performance of conviction and coherence. Spurs now have a home game against Leeds that could effectively secure their survival, especially if West Ham fail to take points from Arsenal. The final-day trip to Chelsea remains a challenge, but for the first time this season, Tottenham look like a team that believes it belongs in the Premier League. Villa, by contrast, must rediscover their rhythm quickly or risk seeing a season of promise unravel.

The bottom line

• Tottenham moved to 17th on 37 points, one point above West Ham, after a 2-1 win at Aston Villa.
• Conor Gallagher and Richarlison scored first-half goals; Emiliano Buendia replied in stoppage time.
• Aston Villa have lost three straight matches and failed to score in 270 minutes across all competitions.
• Villa made seven changes from their Europa League semifinal first-leg loss and face a must-win second leg on Thursday.
• Spurs have back-to-back league wins for the first time since the start of the season and host Leeds next.
• West Ham’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford opened the door for Tottenham, who now hold a 10-goal differential advantage.