Premier League Regular Season - 26
Aston Villa 1 - 0 FT Brighton
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
C. Baleba 2'
↓ C. Baleba ↑J. Milner 22'
J. Veltman 23'
41' E. Martinez
J. P. van Hecke 41'
HT
50' M. Rogers
60' ↓ J. Sancho ↑L. Bailey
60' ↓ E. Buendia ↑R. Barkley
↓ J. P. van Hecke ↑O. Boscagli 61'
74' ↓ A. Onana ↑Alysson
75' ↓ O. Watkins ↑T. Abraham
↓ K. Mitoma ↑H. Howell 81'
↓ D. Gomez ↑Y. Minteh 81'
↓ D. Welbeck ↑C. Kostoulas 81'
84' ↓ Douglas Luiz ↑V. Lindelof
87' J. Hinshelwood
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
Emiliano Martínez 
MAGNET
58
Activity
58
Activity
54
Passes
4
Duels
Defenders
Lamare Bogarde 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ezri Konsa 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Tyrone Mings
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Ian Maatsen 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Amadou Onana
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Douglas Luiz
MAGNET
70
Activity
70
Activity
60
Passes
10
Duels
Jadon Sancho
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
14%
Pass Acc
Morgan Rogers
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Emiliano Buendía
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
60
Total Mins
60
Entry
Forwards
Ollie Watkins
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
75
Entry
BENCH
Marco Bizot 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
James Wright
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lucas Digne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Victor Lindelöf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pau Torres
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leon Bailey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ross Barkley
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alysson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tammy Abraham
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brighton
Goalkeepers
Bart Verbruggen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Joël Veltman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jan Paul van Hecke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Lewis Dunk
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ferdi Kadıoğlu 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
Pascal Groß
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
30%
Pass Acc
Carlos Baleba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
22
Entry
Jack Hinshelwood 
CLUTCH HERO
87
Goal Time
87
Goal Time
Own Goal
Impact
5.9
Rating
Forwards
Diego Gómez
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Danny Welbeck
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Kaoru Mitoma
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
BENCH
Jason Steele
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Olivier Boscagli
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maxim De Cuyper
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
James Milner
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Harry Howell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matt O'Riley
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Georginio Rutter
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yankuba Minteh
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Charalampos Kostoulas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/12/2025 | Brighton | 3 - 4 | Aston Villa | Premier League | Amex Stadium |
| 02/04/2025 | Brighton | 0 - 3 | Aston Villa | Premier League | American Express Stadium |
| 30/12/2024 | Aston Villa | 2 - 2 | Brighton | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 05/05/2024 | Brighton | 1 - 0 | Aston Villa | Premier League | American Express Stadium |
| 30/09/2023 | Aston Villa | 6 - 1 | Brighton | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 28/05/2023 | Aston Villa | 2 - 1 | Brighton | Premier League | Villa Park |
03/12/2025
02/04/2025
30/12/2024
05/05/2024
30/09/2023
28/05/2023
Aston Villa Win
Brighton Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 26 GD: +32
P: 26 GD: +30
P: 26 GD: +10
P: 26 GD: +10
P: 26 GD: +17
P: 26 GD: +6
P: 26 GD: +5
P: 26 GD: -1
P: 26 GD: -2
P: 26 GD: 0
P: 26 GD: -3
P: 26 GD: -5
P: 26 GD: -4
P: 26 GD: 0
P: 26 GD: -9
P: 26 GD: -1
P: 26 GD: -13
P: 26 GD: -17
P: 26 GD: -23
League Standings
P: 31 GD: +39
P: 29 GD: +32
P: 29 GD: +11
P: 29 GD: +5
P: 30 GD: +18
P: 29 GD: +9
P: 29 GD: +4
P: 30 GD: -1
P: 30 GD: 0
P: 30 GD: -2
P: 30 GD: +3
P: 29 GD: -3
P: 30 GD: -5
P: 29 GD: -2
P: 29 GD: -11
P: 29 GD: -7
P: 29 GD: -15
P: 29 GD: -19
P: 30 GD: -26
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Villa Park Stalemate Broken by Late Disaster
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 28/100. A grueling tactical battle at Villa Park was decided by a cruel late twist, keeping Aston Villa firmly in the hunt for Champions League football.
Tactical Chess in the Midlands
From the outset, Aston Villa sought to impose their rhythm on a resilient Brighton side. The match began as a cagey affair where neither side could truly seize control, reflected in an Intensity score of 3.5. Douglas Luiz was the focal point for the hosts, attempting to orchestrate play from deep and registering two key passes as Villa looked to unlock a disciplined Seagulls defense. Despite having the home advantage, Villa struggled to test the keeper frequently, managing 14 total shots but finding the target only once during a frustrating first half. The visitors remained compact, frustrating the Villa Park crowd and ensuring the Balance rating of 1.5 held true through a stalemate opening phase.
Pressure from the Flags
The second half saw Unai Emery’s side turn up the heat, utilizing set-pieces to hem Brighton into their own third. A total of 11 corners throughout the match created a persistent sense of dread for the visitors, yet the breakthrough remained elusive. On the rare occasions Brighton broke forward, they met the immovable wall of Emiliano Martínez. The World Cup winner produced three vital saves to keep the scores level, demonstrating why he remains one of the league's elite shot-stoppers. With a Stakes rating of 6.0, every misplaced pass carried immense weight as Villa pushed for the goal that would solidify their third-place standing in the table while Brighton fought to end their poor run of form.
Cruel Twist at the Death
As the clock ticked toward a goalless draw, disaster struck for the visitors in the 87th minute. In a frantic attempt to clear a dangerous ball, J. Hinshelwood inadvertently directed the ball into his own net, sparking jubilant scenes across the stadium. It was a heartbreaking moment for the young defender but a massive reprieve for Villa, who had edged possession with 50% but lacked clinical finishing until the gift arrived. This result leaves Villa on 50 points, keeping their dreams of European elite status very much alive. For Brighton, the defeat extends a difficult period, leaving them 14th and searching for answers after a match where their defensive organization was undone by a single, unfortunate error.
Key Questions
What does this mean for Aston Villa's season?
This win cements Villa's status in 3rd place, moving them to 50 points and keeping them firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Villa Park’s Top-Four Ambitions vs Brighton’s Disruptive Spark
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 62/100. Aston Villa’s quest for a podium finish faces a stern examination from a Brighton side anchored by the league's most efficient creative catalyst.
The Setup
While Aston Villa currently occupy third place, their recent Form of LWLDW suggests a side searching for the clinical consistency required to maintain their Champions League trajectory. Under the lights at Villa Park on February 11, 2026, the hosts will rely on the elite Balance provided by Youri Tielemans, whose composure remains the heartbeat of their midfield. Defensively, the addition of Marco Bizot has added a new layer of resilience; the goalkeeper has already demonstrated his value with four saves per game, providing a safety net for a backline that must be perfect against Brighton's fluid transitions.
Key Battle
The defining conflict will occur in the central channel where the experienced Youri Tielemans attempts to neutralise the league's man of the moment, Yasin Ayari. While Tielemans offers veteran spatial awareness, Ayari has become the primary Stars attraction for Brighton, operating with a level of freedom that has already yielded four goal involvements in as many matches. If Tielemans cannot disrupt Ayari’s rhythm, the Seagulls have enough technical quality to turn this into a frustrating evening for the Villa Park faithful.
Our Prediction
Expect a match dictated by controlled possession and sudden bursts of verticality. Brighton will look to exploit the half-spaces through Ayari and Jack Hinshelwood, likely finding the net as they have done consistently this season. However, Villa’s superior depth and the home advantage should see them over the line. A late surge fueled by the athleticism of A. Onana and M. Rogers will likely tip the Stakes in the hosts' favour for a narrow 2-1 victory.