Aston Villa have been hit with a significant late setback ahead of their Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, with first-choice goalkeeper Emi Martinez forced to withdraw from the starting lineup.
Late Withdrawal Due to Injury
The Argentine international was set to make his 15th appearance of the season in the match at the Amex Stadium. However, reports confirm he picked up an injury during the pre-match warm-up, prompting an immediate change to the team sheet.
Villa's backup goalkeeper, Marco Bizot, was thrust into the starting role at the last minute. The 34-year-old Dutchman has already made five appearances for the club this season and has previous experience of stepping in for Martinez under similar circumstances.
Bizot's Previous Late Call-Up
Bizot's most recent outing came in the Europa League, where he also replaced Martinez at late notice for the away fixture against Feyenoord. On that occasion, he delivered a commanding performance, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory at De Kuip.
Villa entered the match aiming to extend their impressive run of form, targeting a sixth consecutive win across all competitions. This followed a 2–1 away victory at Leeds United just ten days prior, which they hoped to build upon with another win on the road.
Historical Context of the Fixture
The Seagulls have found Aston Villa a difficult opponent in recent Premier League history. Brighton have managed just one win in their last nine top-flight meetings with Villa, that solitary victory being a 1–0 home win in May 2024.
Conversely, Villa's record on their travels to Brighton has strengthened considerably. Unai Emery's side have won three of their last four away league matches against the south-coast club, matching the number of victories they had achieved in their first eleven visits.
The unexpected absence of their World Cup-winning goalkeeper presents a fresh challenge for Villa as they look to maintain their momentum in the pursuit of European qualification.
