The decisive interventions of the Argentine goalkeeper contributed to Aston Villa's victory over Newcastle

Aston Villa achieved a convincing away victory over Newcastle United with a 2-0 score in Matchday 23 of the Premier League. This win consolidates the Villans’ position in the fight for next season’s Champions League, placing them second with 46 points, tied with Manchester City and just four points behind the leader Arsenal, who faced Manchester United that same weekend. It was a nearly perfect matchday for the team led by Unai Emery, especially due to their defensive performances in critical moments.

The World Cup champion under pressure from the start

From the opening moments of the match, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Dibu Martínez showed he was inspired. Just minutes into the game, Italian Sandro Tonali executed a masterful dribble at the edge of the penalty area, leaving defenders behind until he was face-to-face with the national team goalkeeper. It was there that Dibu made an extraordinary save: with reflexes on point, he cleared the ball with his left foot at a moment when all seemed lost. This was the first sign of a dream afternoon for the goalkeeper, who will face new challenges at the 2026 World Cup wearing the albiceleste jersey.

The intensity of the match remained high from the first minute. Nick Pope, the local goalkeeper, also had to intervene in the 11th minute when Emiliano Buendía, the other Argentine in Aston Villa’s squad, shot with the intention of surprising the opponent’s goal. Seconds later, Ollie Watkins missed a golden opportunity after an assist from Jadon Sancho, though Pope responded with precision once again.

Deadly counterattack and unbreakable defense: the winning tactic

The game maintained a frantic pace, with Newcastle attacking while Aston Villa exploited spaces with sharp counterattacks that constantly threatened. It was precisely during one of these plays when the visitors’ offensive execution shone brightly. In the 19th minute of the first half, Buendía took a shot from outside the box of world-class caliber: after a series of precise passes between Belgians Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans, the Mar del Plata native aimed accurately and placed the ball in the top right corner, an unstoppable shot for any goalkeeper. It was his fifth goal in 21 matches this Premier League season.

From that moment, Newcastle lost fluidity in their offensive play. The home crowd began to pressure, even directing some insults at Argentine goalkeeper Dibu, who remained calm in his goal. The frustration grew among the locals when Yoane Wissa received a yellow card after pushing the goalkeeper at the 31st minute, when Dibu already had the ball under control.

Dibu’s heroic saves in critical moments

Before halftime, Newcastle generated one last dangerous attack that once again required the best from Dibu. A cross from Anthony Gordon found Lewis Miley, whose header was masterfully saved by the goalkeeper with a palm punch to the corner. Another key performance that thwarted the Magpies’ intentions at a moment when a home victory could have changed the course of the match.

In the second half, the game continued at the same pace. However, Aston Villa showed offensive imprecision, failing to find the gap to once again breach the opponent’s goal. Nevertheless, the Villans sealed the victory with Ollie Watkins’ header after a series of defensive doubts and a cross from Morgan Rógers. A conclusion that marked a hard-fought but convincing win.

Watkins seals the deal: a historic victory for the Villans

With the 2-0 score, the match was settled. It was a victory that required great defensive resilience, supported by the decisive interventions of Argentine goalkeeper Dibu and complemented by Buendía’s accurate shot in attack. The most notable aspect of the win is that Aston Villa finally ended a 17-match drought without a victory at St. James’ Park, a streak dating back to 2005. This historic milestone positions Unai Emery’s team comfortably in the Champions League qualification spots, projecting their calendar into the next season with renewed ambitions.