Aston Villa Defeats Fulham 1-0, Boosts Champions League Hopes

Aston Villa earned a crucial 1-0 victory over Fulham, thanks to a first-half header from Youri Tielemans, keeping their hopes for Champions League qualification alive. The win came after a difficult week for Villa, who had suffered FA Cup elimination and a loss to a top-five rival. Tielemans’ goal, scored from a John McGinn corner in the 12th minute, proved decisive as Villa moved up to seventh in the table, level on points with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. Fulham pushed for an equalizer in the second half and had a goal ruled out for handball by VAR, but ultimately could not convert their chances. Villa's defense held firm despite late pressure, and the team’s hard-fought win puts them back in contention for a top-five finish. The result also dealt a blow to Fulham’s own European qualification aspirations.