Martinez suspended for Villa’s UECL semi-final first leg

Aston Villa will be without first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos due to suspension.

Martinez, who played a pivotal role in their quarter-final win over Lille with two penalty saves, received a yellow card during the shootout for unsportsmanlike conduct. While cards are not carried over into the penalty shootout, this was his second yellow of the competition, triggering a one-match suspension.

Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, expressed his disappointment at Martinez’s absence, calling him the best goalkeeper in the world. Martinez’s heroics, including his World Cup-winning performance with Argentina, solidify his position as a top-tier goalkeeper according to Emery.

Villa faces a quick turnaround as they host Bournemouth in the English Premier League this coming Sunday before focusing on the UECL. Emery will assess his players’ fitness after Saturday’s training session, particularly Nicolo Zaniolo, who suffered an injury during the Lille match. Several other players, including Alex Moreno, Emiliano Buendia, Jacob Ramsey, Tyrone Mings, and Boubacar Kamara, remain unavailable for selection.