Emi Buendia’s hopes of securing a more regular spot in Aston Villa’s lineup took a hit after a lackluster performance in the 2-1 EFL Cup loss to Crystal Palace on October 30.
Jhon Duran’s goal temporarily leveled the score, but strikes from Eberechi Eze and Daichi Kamada ultimately sealed Villa’s exit from the competition. The team’s performance fell short overall, and Buendia, in particular, struggled to leave a positive impact.
**Buendia’s Disappointing Outing**
Starting at Villa Park, Buendia failed to capitalize on his opportunity to impress before Villa’s upcoming clash with Tottenham on November 3. Although he played 78 minutes and recorded an 88% pass accuracy on 25 attempts, only three of these passes occurred in the final third, underscoring his limited offensive impact. His 39 total touches also highlighted his minimal involvement, compounded by being dispossessed five times during the game【FotMob】.
Offensively, Buendia’s typical creativity was missing. He managed only one dribble attempt, completing it at a 33% success rate, and had just three touches in the Palace penalty area.
**Lack of Defensive Impact**
Defensively, Buendia’s struggles continued, with no tackles won and a low 15% success rate in duels, as he lost 11 of the 13 he contested. He also committed two fouls, showing a lack of control on the defensive side.
Buendia’s performance offered few positives as he continues his recovery from a long injury layoff, and Emery may be reluctant to rely on him for critical minutes in the coming matches.