‘They would never miss a match’published at 13:32 BST
13:32 BST
One family from Derby, who made their way to Istanbul for last night’s match, had a bit of precarious journey, mum Anaeka explained.
‘Villa is all we sleep, eat, live and breathe in our house,” she says, “so they would never miss a match.”
Image source, Family handout
Husband Ravi had originally booked the flights and tickets for himself and sons Arjun and Abhi.
“But then we realised one of the boys’ passports was due to expire the day after they were going to fly, and he wouldn’t have been allowed in,” Anaeka says.
“So I quickly booked a flight, packed a bag, grabbed him out of school and just drove straight to Birmingham Airport,” she explains.
“We landed at half past 11, so I had half an hour to get him to passport control,” she adds, but it had turned midnight by the time they got there.
“So we had to navigate that and eventually got him in on a temporary visa,” she says.
Image source, Family handout
“I didn’t have a ticket, as I wasn’t meant to be there, but then about five hours ahead of the match I refreshed the Uefa app and one ticket came up two rows away from where they were sat, which was just perfect.”
Image source, Family handout
“It was just such an amazing feeling for us all to be able to celebrate together, and the win as well,” she says.
“That just topped it off.”