Villa Park Friday, April 17th, 1998   UEFA Cup       Aston Villa 3-1 Atlético Madrid
1997 /98

Comments :

Being at Uni in Aston and living on the same floor of Student Accomodation as an avid Villa follower we decided we''d make the effort to go and see a game.  - And what a cracker it proved to be!   - We  - had a few bevvies on campus before grabbing a bus outside the old Ben Johnson pub on Corporation Street.  - We got off and it was a 10 minute walk to the ground.   - Our seats were in the lower Doug Ellis stand, literally a stone''s throw from the segregation and then the Atletico fans, prompting much jeering from the Villa fans and the classic comment delivered in a thick brummie accent "I''ve been to Spain!!!  - It''s rubbish!!!"   - Villa park is huge (and this was even before the Trinity Road stand was redeveloped)  - and the Holt End looked massive and imposing.  - Our seats were fairly decent and the view was good.   - The match was amazing.  - Already 2 down, Villa conceded early on the make the prospect of winning the tie nigh on impossible.  - However they threw caution to the wind and brought the game back to 2-1 before Stan Collymore unleashed a thunderbolt to make the game 3-1 with just minutes to go.  - Drink was spilled and strangers hugged each other.  - The atmosphere was that amazing!  - Alas, sadly, Villa couldn''t pull off the miracle, but had certainly given their fans some pride.   -