There was a nervous vitality reverberating round Villa Park when on the 96th minute Bayern Munich put the ball into the Aston Villa field with Harry Kane roaming across the aim like a hungry predator. Joshua Kimmich lobbed the ball straight on to the England captain’s head and Kane cushioned the ball in direction of the Villa aim, a strike that was destined to interrupt the Villans’ hearts however custodian Emiliano Martinez determined to intervene.
Flying by the air, the Argentine World Cup winner slapped the ball away from aim and handed Villa a well-known victory over Bayern Munich, bringing again recollections from 42 years in the past when in 1982 the English aspect had put down the Bavarians 1-0 within the then European Cup.
Despite the fact that after Wednesday’s victory, the newspaper headlines will likely be splashed with the identify of the lone goalscorer of the match, 20-year-old Colombian striker Jhon Durán, Martinez’s contributions with the gloves can’t be understated. An elite goalie who’s a little bit of an anomaly, enjoying for a not-so fancied aspect within the Premier League even after successful a World Cup together with his nation, Dibu as he’s affectionately referred to as, flies underneath the radar throughout the membership seasons. However the efficiency in opposition to Bayern will probably change that.
Soccer Soccer – Champions League – Aston Villa v Bayern Munich – Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain – October 2, 2024 Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez makes a save from Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
A controversial determine every time he places on the La Albiceleste jersey, Martinez wears his feelings on his sleeves and was lately suspended for two video games for Argentina for holding a duplicate of the Copa América trophy to his groin space after their win in opposition to Chile again in September 5. This ‘celebration’ was a throwback to the gesture he had made in 2022 after successful the World Cup in Qatar which additionally courted a whole lot of backlash. Despite the fact that he apologized for his actions, he’ll now have to take a seat out Argentina’s 2026 World Cup qualifying matches in opposition to Venezuela and Bolivia.
🚨 Emi Martinez’s wonderful saves at the moment in opposition to Bayern pic.twitter.com/Nfi7uDrIeB
— KinG £ (@xKGx__) October 2, 2024
Surprisingly, the Martinez that turns up for Villa is the polar reverse. He appears calm and composed, not permitting his feelings to get the higher of him. Apart from one occasion again in 2021 when he taunted Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo over a spot kick. In the end, Bruno Fernandes would take the penalty however missed and Martinez went on to rejoice wildly in entrance of the United supporters. This was the one time when Mr Hyde had slipped by the façade of Mr Jekyll throughout Dibu’s Aston Villa profession.
On Wednesday, the Argentine would drag Villa again on to the elite degree when he made at the least 5 saves to maintain the English workforce within the recreation. Along with the late Kane save, within the 91st minute, the Argentine had made one other level clean save together with his chest off a toe poke by Serge Gnabry, reminiscent of the 2022 World Cup remaining when he had foiled France’s Kolo Muani.
Emiliano Martínez 🧤⛔
Unreal efficiency 👏#UCL pic.twitter.com/NoBQFSnh5g
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 2, 2024
Shielding his aim like a wall, Martinez has gained the World Cup, 2 Copa Americas and a Golden Gloves trophy, finishing soccer within the worldwide colors however has had a subpar profession in the case of membership degree. Taking part in within the fringes in Arsenal, he couldn’t fairly make it as a primary workforce common regardless of giving stellar performances, serving to the Gunners win FA Cup in 2020.
He would switch to Aston Villa in the identical 12 months and has been their common No.1 since then. As Villa went from energy to energy, Martinez’s stature saved on rising, evolving into the elite participant we see earlier than us at the moment. Can he assist Villa do the unthinkable this season in Europe or the league and add one other feather in an already adorned cap? Solely time will inform.