Premier League Gameweek 1
Brighton 4 - 0 FT Aston Villa
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
8' V. Lindelof
Joao Gomes 9'
9' P. Gross
11' Y. Ayari
18' M. De Cuyper (G. Rutter)
30' J. Hinshelwood (D. Gomez)
31' J. Hinshelwood
J. McGinn 33'
Joao Gomes 40'
HT
64' ↓ Y. Ayari ↑Costinha
64' ↓ J. Hinshelwood ↑C. Kostoulas
↓ P. Torres ↑T. Mings 74'
↓ R. Barkley ↑L. Bogarde 74'
78' ↓ M. De Cuyper ↑I. Osman
78' ↓ M. Wieffer ↑Z. Yohanna
↓ I. Maatsen ↑M. Ruggeri 82'
↓ J. McGinn ↑Alysson 82'
↓ E. Buendia ↑A. Garnacho 86'
86' ↓ D. Gomez ↑M. Yalcouye
M. Cash 90'+5
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Brighton
Goalkeepers
Bart Verbruggen 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
94
Minutes
Defenders
Mats Wieffer 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
54%
Pass Acc
Luka Vušković 
MAGNET
110
Activity
110
Activity
103
Passes
7
Duels
Lewis Dunk
MAGNET
113
Activity
113
Activity
107
Passes
6
Duels
Olivier Boscagli 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Pascal Groß
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
65%
Pass Acc
Yasin Ayari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
Diego Gómez 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
8.2
Rating
Jack Hinshelwood 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
8.9
Rating
Maxim De Cuyper
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
37%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Georginio Rutter
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.7
Rating
BENCH
Jason Steele
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Costinha 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Pascal Struijk
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Michael Svoboda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Malick Yalcouye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Charalampos Kostoulas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibrahim Osman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Promise Akinpelu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Zadok Yohanna
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
Marco Bizot
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Matty Cash 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Victor Lindelöf 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Own Goal
Mistake
Own Goal
Mistake
0
Fouls
5.3
Rating
Pau Torres
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Ian Maatsen
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Boubacar Kamara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Gomes
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
1
Fouls
5
Rating
John McGinn
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
Ross Barkley
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
George Hemmings
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Emiliano Buendía
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
BENCH
Zion Suzuki
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Tyrone Mings
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matteo Ruggeri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Triston Rowe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lamare Bogarde
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alysson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bradley Burrowes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alejandro Garnacho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luka Lynch
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/11/2026 | Aston Villa | 1 - 0 | Brighton | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 12/03/2025 | Brighton | 3 - 4 | Aston Villa | Premier League | Amex Stadium |
| 04/02/2025 | Brighton | 0 - 3 | Aston Villa | Premier League | American Express Stadium |
| 12/30/2024 | Aston Villa | 2 - 2 | Brighton | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 05/05/2024 | Brighton | 1 - 0 | Aston Villa | Premier League | American Express Stadium |
| 09/30/2023 | Aston Villa | 6 - 1 | Brighton | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 05/28/2023 | Aston Villa | 2 - 1 | Brighton | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 12/08/2022 | Aston Villa | 2 - 2 | Brighton | Friendlies Clubs | Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence |
| 11/13/2022 | Brighton | 1 - 2 | Aston Villa | Premier League | The American Express Community Stadium |
| 02/26/2022 | Brighton | 0 - 2 | Aston Villa | Premier League | The American Express Community Stadium |
02/11/2026
12/03/2025
04/02/2025
12/30/2024
05/05/2024
09/30/2023
05/28/2023
12/08/2022
11/13/2022
02/26/2022
Brighton Win
Aston Villa Win
Draw
League Standings
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +7
P: 4 GD: +6
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +8
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -6
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Brighton
Aston Villa
Brighton
Aston Villa
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Seagulls Soar as Ten-Man Villa Crumble at the Amex
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 70/100. A breathtaking attacking exhibition from the hosts blew their opposition away, signalling a massive statement of intent on the opening weekend.
The Early Onslaught
The opening whistle at the American Express Stadium signaled an immediate storm. Brighton pinned the visitors deep into their own half, enforcing a relentless tempo that pushed the Intensity through the roof. The pressure told almost instantly when V. Lindelof bundled the ball into his own net just eight minutes in. Before the dust could settle, Maxim De Cuyper capitalized on a sharp feed from G. Rutter to double the advantage. The hosts completely dominated possession, starving the opposition of any meaningful touches and turning the pitch into a suffocating trap for the visiting defense.
The Devastating Flurry
The true turning point was an astonishing flurry of action that completely obliterated the game's Balance. Jack Hinshelwood emerged as the hero of the hour. First, he finished a sweeping move orchestrated by Diego Gómez on the half-hour mark. Just sixty seconds later, he struck again to complete a devastating brace. Aston Villa completely lost their composure under the suffocating barrage. Frustration boiled over entirely when Joao Gomes saw straight red for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 40th minute. Down to ten men and trailing by four, the visitors' game plan disintegrated entirely before the halftime whistle even blew.
Total Control
The second half played out as a glorified training exercise. The Seagulls effectively killed the contest, maintaining an overwhelming 21 to 6 shot advantage by the final whistle. The visitors failed to register a single shot on target, underscoring a miserable afternoon for the traveling supporters. Earning three points in such dominant fashion highlights the sheer Stakes of opening day momentum. Our take is simple: this was a masterclass in aggressive, front-foot football. The home side climbs straight to the summit of the table, while their battered opponents return to the Midlands with severe defensive questions to answer.
Key Questions
How did the red card for Joao Gomes impact the match?
With his team already trailing 4-0, Gomes' dismissal for unsportsmanlike conduct ended any faint hope of a comeback, forcing a purely defensive second half.
What made Jack Hinshelwood the Man of the Match?
Hinshelwood shattered the opposition with a devastating one-minute brace. His elite positioning and clinical finishing put the contest completely out of reach before halftime.
What does this mean for Brighton's season?
Sitting top of the table after matchday one, this flawless four-goal victory builds immense early momentum and sets a formidable, intimidating standard for the campaign.
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.
Opening Day Intrigue on the South Coast
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 29/100. An exceptionally balanced opening fixture that will test early-season tactical setups, even if the overall spectacle lacks immediate urgency.
The Setup
Matchweek 1 of the Premier League kicks off at the Amex Stadium on August 23, 2026. The Stakes are naturally low this early in the campaign, as both clubs look to simply lay down a solid foundation rather than define their season on day one. However, a sky-high Balance rating suggests there is very little separating these two sides on paper. With a modest Form rating indicating typical early-season rust and a lack of competitive sharpness, this match is all about establishing rhythm. Brighton step onto their home turf as marginal favorites, looking to dictate the tempo in front of their supporters. Meanwhile, Aston Villa will view this trip as a prime opportunity to snatch a valuable result on the road. The Stars metric is relatively modest, meaning collective cohesion and tactical discipline will absolutely outweigh individual flashes of brilliance.
Key Battle
With both teams eager to assert dominance and control the match's tempo, the engine room will dictate the flow of the entire afternoon. Brighton's midfield orchestration, featuring the creative impulses of B. Gruda, must find a way to navigate past a highly robust and physical visiting core. Aston Villa arrive with a formidable central unit, boasting the combative qualities of A. Onana, the dynamic movement of M. Rogers, and the anchoring presence of B. Kamara. This unit-versus-unit war of attrition in the center of the park will demand immense stamina and concentration. Whoever wins the second balls and dictates possession in this crowded area will ultimately lay claim to the points.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey, methodical affair as both teams shake off the off-season cobwebs. Brighton will likely monopolize the ball through intricate passing networks, but Villa's disciplined shape and rapid transitions will keep the home side honest at every turn. A hard-fought 1-1 draw seems the most realistic outcome, as the two tactically astute managers eventually cancel each other out in a tight opening-day contest.