Will Emi Martinez miss Aston Villa semi-final? Unai Emery handed blow as rule suspension rule explained

Emi Martinez was the hero for Aston Villa at the Stade Pierre Mauroy
Emi Martinez was the hero for Aston Villa at the Stade Pierre Mauroy -Credit:Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images


Emi Martinez will be suspended for Aston Villa's Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiacos, the club confirmed shortly after their penalty shoot-out victory over Lille.

The goalkeeper collected two yellow cards in Villa's victory on Thursday, but wasn't sent off because his second caution came during the penalty shoot-out. Having already been booked in the 94th minute of Villa's 2-1 win in the first leg, Martinez will now be suspended for the club's next game in Europe for collecting three yellow cards.

He was the hero on the night as he saved two of Lille's penalties to send Villa into the final four. Nabil Bentaleb took the second spot-kick of the shoot-out after Youri Tielemans scored, but Martinez saved it. After celebrating and goading the Lille supporters behind the goal, he was booked.

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Just as the shoot-out looked to be heading into sudden death, Martinez then saved Benjamin Andre's effort, after Douglas Luiz had scored for Villa following Leon Bailey's miss.

Martinez sprinted off after winning the game for Villa with another dramatic stop, running the full length of the pitch.

The enigmatic shot-stopper gave a shy dance after the game was won, seemingly waiting for confirmation that he hadn't stepped off his line in the process. Once the referee made it clear that all was over, the true celebrations began.

Villa host Olympiacos at Villa Park on Thursday, May 2. The away leg will take place on Thursday, May 9.

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