Tottenham Hotspur beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park on Sunday to climb out of the relegation zone, with Conor Gallagher and Richarlison scoring in a controlled away display under Roberto De Zerbi.
Spurs controlled the game through midfield and pressed Villa high. They won second balls and forced errors. Gallagher opened the scoring after 12 minutes with a low strike from outside the box after Villa failed to clear a long throw. Tottenham kept their shape and denied Villa space between the lines.
Villa rotated heavily, making seven changes. Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Ollie Watkins all started on the bench. The selection disrupted their rhythm. They struggled to progress the ball and created little in the first half.
Tottenham doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Richarlison rose inside the six-yard box and headed in. Spurs attacked with width and delivered early crosses. Their front line ran at Villa’s back line and stretched the defence.
Villa improved after the break but still lacked precision. They managed five shots, all in the second half, and only one on target. Emiliano Buendía scored a late header in added time, but Tottenham had already controlled the outcome.
De Zerbi set his side to press aggressively and move the ball quickly through midfield. João Palhinha hit the post during a second-half spell where Spurs pushed for a third goal. Antonin Kinsky did not face a save before the interval and remained largely untested.
The result lifts Tottenham above West Ham after their defeat at Brentford. Spurs now have back-to-back league wins for the first time since August. Villa remain fifth but must respond ahead of their Europa League semi-final second leg.
