Aston Villa Faces Newcastle Without Star Goalkeeper Dibu Martínez

BIRMINGHAM, England — Aston Villa opened their Premier League season against Newcastle United on Saturday at Villa Park without star goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, who is serving a suspension. Martinez’s absence comes after he received a red card in the last match of the previous season against Manchester United.

In a surprising turn, Dutch goalkeeper Marco Bizot stepped in to guard Villa’s net. Coach Unai Emery‘s decision to start Bizot was not due to a tactical change or injury but rather a direct result of Martínez’s suspension for one match. The World Cup champion was sent off in the dying minutes of the first half during the pivotal match at Old Trafford.

“The referee deemed it a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and unfortunately, I had to intervene,” Martínez explained recently. His foul on United’s Rasmus Højlund led to his first career red card, complicating Villa’s hopes for Champions League qualification last season.

As the team prepared for their debut match, speculation swirled around Martínez potentially leaving for another club during the transfer window. However, no significant offers have come through, leaving him in Birmingham for now.

The match against Newcastle ended in a scoreless draw, with Villa struggling to assert themselves without Martínez’s influence on the field. The team faced further challenges when Ezri Konsa received a red card in the second half, further complicating their performance.

Despite the lack of goals, Aston Villa’s defense managed to hold their ground, showcasing the skills of new addition Bizot. He successfully thwarted several attempts from Newcastle, which has a reputation for attacking intensity. Villa’s next challenge will be against Brentford, where Martínez will be eligible to return.