Aston Villa exited the Carabao Cup following a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace at Villa Park. Despite dominating possession and chances, Unai Emery’s side was unable to advance, which could frustrate fans as this competition presented a promising route for silverware.
Villa controlled 62% of possession and took 17 shots, nine on target, compared to Palace’s ten shots.
However, missed opportunities plagued Villa’s night. Crystal Palace opened the scoring through Eberechi Eze, who lost his marker in the box and headed home from close range. Villa responded 15 minutes later, with the in-form Jhon Duran showcasing his skills as he turned and fired into the bottom left corner. Yet, the deciding moment came in the 64th minute when Diego Carlos misplaced a pass that gifted Daichi Kamada a clear chance. Kamada seized the opportunity, driving the ball from outside the box past Joe Guaci.
Carlos, who had been a reliable part of Villa’s defense recently, was among those who struggled. Villa writer Jacob Tanswell noted that while Carlos had a solid October, his performance in this match fell short. Pressed by Jean-Philippe Mateta, Carlos’s misdirected pass to Kamada resulted in Palace’s winning goal—a rare error from the experienced defender.
Despite the costly mistake, Carlos did put up solid stats. He had 73 touches and completed 91% of his passes, winning four of five ground duels and all three tackles. However, his six misplaced passes, including the crucial error, detracted from an otherwise decent showing.
Emiliano Buendia, recently back from a major ACL injury sustained in August 2023, also had a challenging evening. Starting at Villa Park for the first time since his return, the Argentine struggled to make a significant impact. While he completed 88% of his passes and looked composed in tight areas, he managed only 39 touches, lost possession 11 times, and completed just one of three dribble attempts. Buendia’s out-of-possession stats were also concerning, as he lost 11 duels.
Buendia’s performance earned him a 6/10 rating from *Birmingham Mail* journalist John Townley, who noted that while he seemed comfortable receiving the ball in tight spaces, the overall performance left room for improvement. His limited touches, lost duels, and low dribble success suggested rust, although he managed to create one chance during the game.
Villa’s Carabao Cup defeat was a frustrating evening defined by missed chances and costly errors. Carlos and Buendia, both key players returning to form, had uneven performances that highlighted the need for sharpness and consistency. With three competitions still to navigate, Villa has plenty to focus on, and both players have areas to improve as they seek to regain top form.