Emiliano Martinez set to miss UEFA Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiacos

The Argentine picked a yellow card for his antics against Lille during penalties

With a thrilling victory over Lille on Thursday, Aston Villa advanced to the UEFA Conference League semifinals, and Emiliano Martinez made headlines. Martinez repeated his 2022 World Cup heroics in the penalty shootout, making two crucial stops to assist the Premier League team advance.

He did, however, receive a yellow card during the match and then one during the shootout, thus he will not participate in their subsequent match. Due to suspension, Aston Villa’s custodian Emi Martinez will miss the first leg of their team’s UEFA Conference League semi-final.

With a penalty round victory over Lille on Thursday, the Premier League team progressed to the competition’s last four, with the Argentina international emerging as the team’s hero.

Martinez has gained notoriety for his wild theatrics in shootouts, and he has now triumphed in the last five on the club and global stages.

The custodian was controversially booked by the referee for his actions towards the Lille fans during the penalty kicks, despite making two saves in the shootout.

Martinez was already booked during the match, but as bookings do not carry over into penalty shootouts, the goalie was able to stay in the game.

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UEFA has already confirmed, nevertheless, that he will be punished for the first leg of the quarterfinal match against Olympiacos due to his three yellow card accumulation across the two legs.

On May 2, Unai Emery’s team will host Olympiacos for the first leg at Villa Park. The following week, they will head to Greece for the second leg.

Olympiacos defeated Fenerbache in a shootout on penalties to go to the semi-finals.

After the game, Martinez said to TNT Sports, “My career has been an incredible journey.” I work hard and am a believer, therefore today was meant to be.

“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.”

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