Emi Martinez made headlines as Aston Villa progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League via a dramatic win over Lille on Thursday. The match went to a penalty shoot-out where Martinez repeated his 2022 World Cup heroics, making two saves to help the Premier League club go through. However, he picked up a yellow card during the shoot-out and will now miss their next game. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez will miss his team’s UEFA Conference League semi-final first leg through suspension.
The Argentina international was the hero for the Premier League side as they advanced into the final four of the competition following a penalty shoot-out win over Lille on Thursday.
Martinez has become renowned for his antics during shoot-outs and he has now won the last five, both at club and international level. The goalkeeper made two saves in the shoot-out but there was controversy when he was booked by the official for his behaviour towards the Lille supporters during the spot kicks.
Martinez had already been booked in the game but was not sent off because bookings are not carried into shoot-outs, which allowed the goalkeeper to continue on the pitch.
However, UEFA has now confirmed that he will be suspended for the first leg against Olympiacos after receiving three yellow cards over both legs in the quarter-final tie.
Unai Emery’s side will welcome Olympiacos to Villa Park for the first leg on May 2 before travelling to Greece for the second leg the following week. Olympiacos advanced to the semi-finals with their own penalty shoot-out victory over Fenerbache.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Martinez said: “It has been a hell of a ride all of my career. I am a believer and a hard worker and it was my destiny today.
“I always say in all my career, I owe my team-mates in those moments, even when we were watching Real Madrid last night the manager was saying we might go to penalties and in those moments I own my box.
“I just have a bad reputation for time-wasting because the other goalie was doing exactly the same thing.
“I get booked after 30 minutes, and we’re losing the game, so I don’t know what the ref wants from me. There was no ball on the penalty spot, and I’m asking for a ball from a ball boy and then I get booked. “I don’t understand the rules.”
Villa return to Premier League action on Sunday when they host Bournemouth as they continue their bid for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.