The match became highly politicised after Maccabi’s fans were banned from attending in a decision – made by Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group – which sparked debate on a parliamentary level, with British prime minister Kier Starmer calling it wrong.

While there were six arrests made before kick-off after a deployment of 700 police officers amid pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests, Villa’s focus was only ever on the football.

And a goal in either half from Dutch duo Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen saw them earn victory which boosts their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages automatically.

At the halfway point in the league phase they sit sixth in the table, with games against Young Boys, Basel, Fenerbahce and Salzburg still to come.

They did not have it all their own way, t

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