It started in Bern with a 33.2 per cent chance of getting out of the league phase, and ended with an almighty clash against one of the best sides in Europe.
Aston Villa’s Champions League journey is over, but it lasted far longer than many predicted, giving a whole new generation of supporters a campaign to remember.
There were 12 games, eight wins, three defeats, one forgettable draw. There were 22 goals – including two worldies from Jhon Duran and John McGinn at Villa Park – to just 12 conceded and an impressive five clean sheets.
There were six sightings of Prince William and that viral video about tactics and the “high press”, one mighty reminder for Tyrone Mings to look before he picks the ball up, and the repeated brilliance of Morgan Rogers. Three goals for Rogers against Celtic to help Villa finish above Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in the table.
After 41 years away, Villa enjoyed some ride in the Champions League, and having followed the journey every step of the way, I was reminded of two things.
Firstly, the simple joy of an away day on the continent.
The quarter-final run put a mighty dent in wallets and wreaked havoc on annual leave, as Villa supporters headed for Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Monaco, Belgium again and then France.
Many I spoke to were “working” on the go having already followed Villa in the Conference League last year. While that meant struggling with the Eurostar WiFi, seeking out cafes in quiet corners of town, or even taking calls in hostel rooms, it was all for a greater cause.
The nights before the matches saw plenty stumble into Ian Taylor, the Villa legend orchestrating chants on a chair across the Irish bars of Europe, while whispers of other ex-players enjoying a night out only added to the giddy excitement.
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Sure, the results mattered, but this build-up was the real escape, offering a rare midweek feeling where the inner child within all fans surfaced.
The joy of being back in the big time was contagious, so much so that even the local bar staff in Bruges joined in with booting footballs high into the sky around the beautiful Markt square.
It was mesmerising to watch, from a safe distance, and I wasn’t alone in that regard. Plenty stopped in their tracks to witness a bizarre scene of contrasts in this cobbled pocket of activity that dates back to 958.
Beyond that and the innocent sniggering at Young Boys’ stadium name in Bern – a validating experience where Villa won their opening game – fans were then able to bask in the home away from home that was Leipzig and a German market, a sight and smell familiar to Brummies in December.
I’d go back for the Handbrot alone. I went back to the same stall twice, and it was comforting to feel as if you were walking along Birmingham’s New Street, albeit 800 miles away.
Then there was the January sun of Nice and Monaco, the quips of “not bad for an away day, this” – which I heard more than once along the Promenade des Anglais – and a half-day exploring the principality.
The juxtaposition of fans drinking tinnies a stone’s throw away from superyachts was not lost on me.
That Monaco trip was memorable for many I spoke to until the result, a flat 1-0 loss. Come the repeat away day in Bruges, lessons had clearly been learned, not only by Mings, who was pivotal in the 3-1 win, but also by some supporters regarding the strength of Belgian beer.
Paris in spring saw hope blossom for four fleeting minutes, but having pushed PSG in a manner even Liverpool failed to, this only strengthened the belief that Villa could cause an upset back at home.
And this was the other reminder, that Villa really are a force at home (now 18 games unbeaten at Villa Park), especially under the lights.
Few claret-and-blue inclined will ever forget the quick-fire double from McGinn and Ezri Konsa that left them a goal away from forcing extra-time against PSG.
The fact they had more then 30 minutes to do so only becomes more apparent the day after, because in the moment it was one long blur, the stadium riding on a high with a European heavyweight firmly on the ropes.
It wasn’t to be, but it was a 3-2 win. The sound system was right this time – having bizarrely played out the Europa League anthem before kick-off – when opting for “Hi-ho Aston Villa!” as fans belted out a bittersweet rendition after the game.
Villa not only entertained footballing royalty but beat them, proving they weren’t here just to make up the numbers and deepening the sense that they belong in this competition.
That belief started with the 1-0 win over Bayern, arguably the standout night, where Villa repeated the scoreline from the 1982 European Cup final thanks to one of the greatest goals this stadium has ever witnessed.
Duran supplied the heroics, and while he may have swapped the Champions League journey for Saudi riches, he still played a vital role in a season where Villa matured on the pitch, picking up invaluable experience that will only serve them well going forward.
They disrupted the status quo, and for Unai Emery, the staff, the players and the supporters, there will be an overwhelming desire to do it all again – a feat they could take a mighty step towards if they can beat Newcastle on Saturday.
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