Goals from Jhon Duran, Leon Bailey and Matty Cash saw the English Premier League side comfortably book their passage through to the group stages following a 5-0 win in Edinburgh a week prior.
Despite the scoreline at Villa Park, the Hibees produced a brave performance at the home of a top-quality opponent who have eyes on winning the competition.
We had our chances in the game as home goalkeeper Robin Olsen made several saves to thwart us only for the hosts' class and quality to show in the end.
Caretaker Manager David Gray made four changes following the defeat by Livingston. Riley Harbottle, Will Fish, Allan Delferrière and Martin Boyle made way for Lewis Miller, Paul Hanlon, Lewis Stevenson and Josh Campbell.
Unai Emery made six changes to his starting XI following Villa’s 3-1 victory over Burnley.
The 2,200 Hibees in Birmingham made their presence known and were in fine voice as Paul Hanlon led the team out into the pre-match fireworks.
Despite the aggregate scoreline we started brightly and were determined to attack our hosts when the opportunity arose.
In only the third minute a wonderful cross from Jordan Obita was spilled by Olsen at full stretch and Pau Torres had to step in and clear before Christian Doidge could pounce on the loose ball.
As positive as our start had been, we would fall behind to Villa’s first real foray forward as Torres' long ball in behind our defence found the run of Duran racing in between Bushiri and Hanlon; he slipped a shot past the outrushing David Marshall and into the unguarded net.
It was the 19-year-old’s second goal in four games this season and was a terrific, clinical finish however from a defensive point-of-view it was a cheap goal to lose.
We reacted positively to the setback and on 17 minutes Joe Newell’s corner was partially cleared by Villa but only as far as Obita who struck a thunderous effort towards goal that Olsen pushed round his post at full stretch.
From the corner kick the home side again struggled to clear their lines and Olsen was once more called into action, this time saving from Campbell at his near post.
The match was certainly more of a contest than the first leg had been at Easter Road although Villa was again dominating possession.
On 21 minutes Villa skipper Douglas Luiz had a go from 25 yards when he tried to wrap his foot around the ball and find the top corner only to shoot just over the crossbar.
Just after the half-hour Villa increased their lead. Omari Kellyman drove forward from midfield and fed the ball to Bailey on the right, he was afforded time and space to cut inside onto his left foot before beating Marshall with a tidy finish.
Shortly after this we were almost handed an unlikely way back into the match when Olsen nearly allowed a back pass to run through his legs, he would recover only to again cause another heart in the mouth moment for the home support when his clearance was nearly charged down by Doidge.
We finished the first half with a late penalty shout after Doidge’s scuffed shot struck Ezri Konsa, however the referee waved away the handball appeal and played on.
Villa made a double change at the break with John McGinn and Cash replacing Kamara and Konsa.
The English outfit would be straight on the offensive with Youri Tielemans trying his luck from long range only for a deflection to rob the shot of its power and make it a comfortable save for Marshall.
On 50 minutes Elie Youan showed wonderful skill to turn Cash inside-out before trying to beat Olsen at his near post; the keeper read the danger and made the save.
We suffered a blow on 52 minutes when Obita pulled up with an injury and had to be replaced by Fish.
Villa would also make a series of substitutions that would see them pile on the pressure. First, Marshall had to beat away a terrific shot from distance from Duran.
Then, the Hibs goalkeeper could not hold a powerful free-kick from Bailey and Cash pounced on the loose ball to notch his side’s third goal.
Ollie Watkins – who grabbed a hat-trick a week prior in Leith – was denied by a stunning, instinctive save from Marshall with Fish following up to head off the line before Tielemans could score from the rebound.
With 17 minutes remaining Tielemans played Bailey in on the right with a stunning reverse pass, he then drew Marshall before squaring for McGinn who was denied a certain goal by a terrific block from Bushiri.
Villa was pressing hard to add to their tally and Kellyman almost added a fourth with a fine curling effort from the edge of our box that flashed just wide.
The magnificent Hibs fans didn’t stop singing all evening and a spine-tingling rendition of Sunshine on Leith was warmly received by sections of the home support.
In time added on Cash was denied by Marshall in the final action of note as Villa progress into the group stages and we exit competition.
Aston Villa: Olsen, Konsa (Cash 46’), Luiz (Dendoncker 69’), Tielemans, Torres (Carlos 62’), Chambers, Duran (Watkins 62’), Bailey, Kamara (McGinn 46’), Revan, Kellyman. Substitutes not used: Marschall, Zych, Digne, Diaby, O’Reilly, Feeney.
Hibernian: Marshall, Miller, Hanlon, Youan (Boyle 65’), Newell (Delferriere 65’), Jeggo, Stevenson, Obita (Fish 54’), Doidge (Le Fondre 54’), Campbell (Molotnikov 88’), Bushiri. Substitutes not used: Boruc, Johnson, Vente, Harbottle, McAllister, Megwa, MacIntyre.
Referee: Luca Pairetto (ITA).
