Aston Villa move into the final stretch of the 2025–26 Premier League season with real wind in their sails and a clear shot at Europe. Even while juggling a UEFA Europa League campaign, the club managed their best top-flight winning streak since 1910 earlier this term, racking up eight straight wins after beating Chelsea on 27 December 2025.
Sitting fourth with 55 points and just six games left, Aston Villa are in the driver’s seat for Champions League qualification. Unai Emery has created a team that are as smart tactically as they are dangerous in attack, and the fans at Villa Park have moved past just hoping for a top-half finish. That new status brings its own pressure, though, especially when points go missing at grounds where Aston Villa really should be clinical.
Bizot steps in as Martínez withdraws, but how serious is it?
Villa’s plans for Sunday’s trip to the City Ground were thrown into chaos when Emiliano Martínez pulled out after the warm-up, which became the third time this has happened this season. Marco Bizot had to step in at the last minute. After the match, Emery confirmed that Martínez felt a twinge in his calf during drills and didn’t feel right enough to start.
Gastón Edul of TyC Sports reported on X that while it is a muscular strain, it shouldn’t keep him out for long. Argentine outlet Olé shared that optimism, noting the initial outlook was minimal concern and describing it as a mild issue despite the initial panic of the late withdrawal. Martínez was scheduled for scans on Monday to be sure.
The stats show exactly why Villa fans are holding their breath: in 27 league games this year, Martínez has kept 8 clean sheets and holds a save percentage of 72.64%, according to Footy Stats. He is, quite simply, the heartbeat of their defence.
Does this draw expose something Aston Villa need to fix before the run-in?
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 09: Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa FC gestures during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg One match between Bologna FC 1909 and Aston Villa FC at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on April 09, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Even without Martínez, Villa started sharp and deserved their early lead, with Victor Lindelof and Pau Torres looking solid at the back. The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Murillo turned a Morgan Rogers cross into his own net, but Neco Williams pulled Forest level with a strike from distance just before half-time.
Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins both had sights of goal in the second half but couldn’t find the finishing touch. In a race for the Champions League where nothing is guaranteed, failing to turn dominance into goals is what separates the top four from the rest. The Martínez injury makes the team look a bit more vulnerable, as they always look more secure with their World Cup winner between the posts.
Bizot did a steady job on Sunday, but he isn’t on the same level. With a potential Europa League semi-final clash between these two clubs on the horizon, getting Martínez back to full fitness isn’t just a bonus, it’s a necessity. Aston Villa have the talent, but their room for error is getting smaller by the week.
