Emi Martinez will miss the first leg of the Conference League semi-final due to suspension following a dramatic double yellow card incident during the shoot-out victory.

Aston Villa’s star goalkeeper Emi Martinez will be absent for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semi-final due to suspension. The Argentine international played a crucial role in his team’s advancement to the final four, particularly during the penalty shoot-out victory over Lille on Thursday.

Martinez has gained a reputation for his heroics in shoot-outs, having now emerged victorious in the last five, both at club and international level. During the recent shoot-out against Lille, he made two crucial saves. However, controversy arose when he was booked by the referee for his behavior towards the Lille supporters during the spot kicks.

Despite already receiving a booking earlier in the game, Martinez was not sent off as bookings do not carry over into shoot-outs. This allowed him to continue playing. Nevertheless, UEFA has now confirmed that he will face suspension for the first leg against Olympiacos due to accumulating three yellow cards over both legs of the quarter-final tie.

Unai Emery’s side will have the advantage of playing the first leg at Villa Park on May 2, before traveling to Greece for the second leg the following week. Martinez’s absence will undoubtedly be felt, as he has been a key figure for Aston Villa throughout their European campaign.

In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Martinez expressed his emotions, stating, “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 teammates 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.”

The goalkeeper also voiced his frustration with the referee’s decision, saying, “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.”

Despite the setback, Aston Villa will need to quickly regroup as they return to Premier League action on Sunday against Bournemouth. They are determined to secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League and will be eager to continue their strong domestic form.