Tielemans secures vital win for Villa in top-five battle

The Belgian midfielder, Villa's stand-out performer, powers in John McGinn's 12th-minute corner

Premier League - Aston Villa v Fulham - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - May 3, 2025 Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Youri Tielemans headed the only goal as Aston Villa beat Fulham 1-0 on Saturday to boost their hopes of finishing in the Premier League's top five and qualifying for the Champions League.

The Belgian midfielder, Villa's stand-out performer, powered in John McGinn's 12th-minute corner.

Tielemans almost set up a second goal for Ollie Watkins and was narrowly wide with a superb curling effort on the stroke of halftime as Villa returned to winning ways.

Donyell Malen struck the underside of the crossbar in stoppage time for Villa but one goal proved enough.

Villa remained in seventh place with three games left but they are now level on 60 points with Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, both of whom have an extra game to play.

Defeat was a big blow to eighth-placed Fulham's own European hopes. They have 51 points from 35 games but could drop lower depending on other results this weekend.