Leeds Take the Lead After Another Martinez Blunder
So, here’s the story from Elland Road today—Leeds United have taken the lead against Aston Villa, and once again, Emiliano Martinez found himself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. It’s become almost a weekly occurrence for the Villa goalkeeper, who somehow managed to spill a high ball that gifted Leeds the opening goal.
The situation unfolded after Gabriel Gudmundsson got on the end of Sean Longstaff’s free-kick to the back post. Martinez struggled to deal with the ball under pressure from Anton Stach, and before anyone could blink, it fell to Lukas Nmecha, who made no mistake from close range. After a VAR check, referee Robert Jones confirmed the goal, noting that Gudmundsson was onside and that Nmecha didn’t interfere with Martinez during the build-up. Even contact with Martinez wasn’t considered a foul. It was one of those moments that, while unlucky for Villa, could prove priceless for Leeds in their fight to stay clear of the relegation zone.
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Unsurprisingly, Manchester United fans were quick to react on social media. Many seemed relieved that their club opted for Senne Lammens over Martinez during the summer. Lammens has settled into the United lineup seamlessly, remaining unbeaten in the five games he has started, including a memorable 2-1 win over Liverpool. Comparisons with Martinez were immediate, with fans jokingly calling the Villa man “Di bum” and questioning how anyone could have considered him for Old Trafford. One fan even remarked, “We dodged a missile not signing Martinez,” highlighting just how costly these errors have become.
From Aston Villa’s perspective, this wasn’t ideal timing. The team had come to Leeds riding a strong run, with five wins in their last six league matches. Now, with Martinez under renewed scrutiny, rumors about a possible January move have resurfaced. Inter Milan has reportedly shown interest, eyeing him as a potential replacement for Yann Sommer, whose contract is expiring at the end of the season. For Villa, it could be a chance to cash in on their 33-year-old shot-stopper, who has struggled to hit the high standards expected of him this season.
Looking ahead, Villa still have plenty to play for. After Leeds, they return home for a Europa League clash with Young Boys and then face Wolverhampton Wanderers, who themselves are on a six-game losing streak. Villa will hope to regain momentum and avoid any further slip-ups, particularly with Martinez’s form raising eyebrows. Meanwhile, Leeds will be buoyed by this early lead, and it’s safe to say that Villa’s goalkeeper will be feeling the weight of that spilled ball for a while.
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