Villa outclassed by Hamburg

With qualification for the final 32 already assured, Villa manager Martin O'Neill included only three of the starting line-up from the 4-2 weekend win over Bolton in Carlos Cuellar, Luke Young and Steve Sidwell.

Villa, who had Sidwell sent off in the closing stages, had to play second fiddle to Martin Jol's side once Petric had opened the scoring to pave the way for a double blast from Olic before a late consolation from Nathan Delfouneso.

Petric and Olic pulled the Villa centre-back pairing of Zat Knight and Cuellar, who looked particularly uncomfortable, all over the place with their movement and intelligent play.

Villa began the game with only Marlon Harewood operating up front and after 18 minutes a deadly piece of finishing from Petric put Hamburg in front after they had dominated the early exchanges.

Piotr Trochowski played a 50-yard ball which picked out the run of Petric who had managed to stay onside and his first touch took him clear of Zat Knight before he fired a left-footed volley past the dive of Brad Guzan into the corner of the net.

Then after 28 minutes Villa were found wanting at the back again as Olic doubled Hamburg's lead. Marcell Jansen supplied the ball out to Dennis Aogo on the left flank and his cross into the danger area saw Olic get in front of Cuellar and angle his header past Guzan via the inside of a post.

And in first-half injury-time Guzan was relieved to see a thumping drive from Jansen crash against the crossbar.

Cuellar was at fault when Villa fell further behind after 56 minutes to Olic's second goal. Joris Mathijsen launched a 60-yard pass into the Villa half which Cuellar looked favourite to win but Olic nicked the ball away from him and drilled a low shot past Guzan.

Delfouneso scored a consolation goal eight minutes from time from a Moustapha Salifou centre and a minute later Sidwell was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence when he tripped David Jarolim.