A L B I O N G A Z E T T E - ( xvii )
3 DECEMBER 2025
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3 ASTON VILLA 4
PREMIER LEAGUE
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Albion's hectic playing programme continued with a visit from Aston Villa to the Amex for a Premier League encounter, the game being covered "live" by Sky Sports and being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous outing in the Premier the Seagulls had achieved an excellent 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on the 30 November and for Villa's visit the Albion made three changes to their starting line-up from the Forest game, with Carlos Baleba, Brajan Gruda and Stefanos Tzimas coming in for Yasin Ayari, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck, the latter dropping down to the substitutes bench.
It was Tzimas's first Premier League start. Further, it was Captain Lewis Dunk's 500th senior appearance for the Albion - a magnificent achievement.
Last time out in the Premier Villa had beaten Wolves 1-0 at home on the 30 November and for the visit to the Amex Head Coach Unai Emery originally made four changes to his starting line-up from the Wolves game, with Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana, Evann Guessand and Ollie Watkins replacing Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia and Donyell Malen, the latter four dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Minutes before kick-off Villa had to make a further change to their line-up after goalkeeper Emilianio Martinez got injured in the warm-up and was replaced by Marco Bizot.
Last season's meetings in the Premier saw the teams draw 2-2 at Villa Park on the 30 December 2024, with Simon Adingra (12m) and Tariq Lamptey (81m) scoring for the Seagulls, whilst Ollie Watkins (36m, penalty) and Morgan Rogers (47m) netted for Villa.
In the return fixture at the Amex on the 2 April 2025 it finished 3-0 to the Villa, with their goals coming from Marcus Rashford (51m), Marco Asensio (78m) and Donyell Malen (90+10m).
The meeting of two in-form teams and with Albion seeking to extend their unbeaten home record, their last defeat being 0-3 to Villa on the 2 April 2025, it was the Seagulls who made the perfect start on 9 minutes when from a corner Jan Paul Van Hecke was on hand to bundle the ball home to put his team ahead. 1-0.
Albion were unfortunate to lose Stefanos Tzimas to injury on 24 minutes, Jack Hinshelwood substituting. Thereafter Villa's stand-in keeper Marco Bizot tipped Maxim De Cuyper's free-kick over the bar and at the other end Ollie Watkins fired a shot straight at Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen. Albion increased their lead on 29 minutes when Hinshelwood's cross-shot was deflected into his own net by Villa central-defender Pau Torres. 2-0.
It was too good to be true, as some sloppy Seagulls defending allowed Watkins to tap in Ian Maatsen's cross from close-in. 2-1.
Worse was to follow deep into time added on when Morgan Rogers superb long pass over the top enabled Watkins to race clear of Albion's back-line to fire the ball past Verbruggen to put the Villans level. 2-2. A breathtaking first-half, but that Albion defending.
Half-time 2-2.
The second-half started in the same vein but the visitors went into the lead for the first time in the game on the hour when the unmarked Amadou Onana got on the end of Matty Cash's corner to head the Villa ahead. 2-3.
Villa substitute Donyell Malen had only been on the pitch a minute earlier, when in the 78th minute he was on hand to shoot home from close-range after Verbruggen had parried Evann Guessand's header into his path. 2-4.
Albion never gave up and on 83 minutes Van Hecke shot home from the edge of the area to give Seagulls hope. 3-4. Deep into time added on keeper Bizot made an excellent save when tipping substitute Danny Welbeck's goalbound header over the bar and Albion's 10-match unbeaten home league run was over.
Final-score 3-4.
Match stats:
Albion had 16 attempts at goal, with 7 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
Villa had 14 attempts at goal, with 10 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 9.
VERDICT - After the euphoria of the win at Forest last time out, a sloppy defensive display saw the Albion surrender their 10-match unbeaten home league run in their defeat to Villa. The Albion had gone 2-0 up on the half-hour and should have seen the game out. The Seagulls will need to get back to winning ways this Sunday at home to West Ham.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Mats WIEFFER, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Lewis DUNK (Capt), Ferdi KADIOGLU (Danny WELBECK 67); Carlos BALEBA (Joel VELTMAN 78), Diego GOMEZ; Yankuba MINTEH, Brajan GRUDA (Charalampos KOSTOULAS 77), Maxim DE CUYPER; Stefanos TZIMAS (Jack HINSHELWOOD 24).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Olivier BOSCAGLI, Diego COPPOLA, Joe KNIGHT, Nehemiah ORIOLA
Aston Villa line-up (4-2-3-1):- Marco BIZOT; Matty CASH, Ezri KONSA, Pau TORRES, Ian MAATSEN (Lucas DIGNE 70); Boubacer KAMARA (Youri TIELEMANS 70), Amadou ONANA; Evann GUESSAND (Lamare BOGARDE 86), John McGINN (Capt) (Donyell MALEN 77), Morgan ROGERS; Ollie WATKINS (Emiliano BUENDIA 86).
Subs not used: Ronnie HOLLINGSHEAD (G/K), Andres GARCIA, Victor LINDELOF, Jadon SANCHO.
Referee: Andy Madley (South Yorkshire). Fourth Official: Ruebyn Ricardo.
VAR Official: John Brooks.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Bart Verbruggen, Diego Gomez. Villa: 2 - Marco Bizot, John McGinn.
Possession: Albion - 56%. Villa - 44%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Ollie Watkins (Villa).
NEXT GAME:
7 DECEMBER 2025 - WEST HAM UNITED - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE -
KICK-OFF 14.00. "LIVE" ON SKY SPORTS.
Jack Kaye.
7 December 2025.