Dibu Martínez’s Aston Villa beats United: the unusual distraction play that opened the match

He Aston Villa From Emiliano Dibu Martinez arrived on the famous (and controversial) Boxing Day of premier league with one mission: to beat the Manchester United as a guest, add three and put pressure on Arsenal at the top of the table. For now he has fulfilled the task.

The first goal, to open the match, was scored by the Scotsman John McGinn in the 21st minute of the first half, with a long-range free kick that hit the far post of the United goalkeeper, André Onana. At least that’s what the statistics will say.

In reality, a lot is owed to the Jamaican striker Leon Bailey and the Spanish coach Unai Emeryfor their leading roles in the play.

Before McGinn took his free kick from the sideline, which appeared to come in the form of a cross, Bailey was behind Onana in a completely irregular position because if the ball went towards his position he had the advantage.

Mischievously, the Villains striker smiled at the referee’s warning, knowing he had to move as quickly as possible to avoid offside. His mission, it became clear, was deconcentrate to the poor Cameroonian goalkeeper.

The center arrives, Bailey goes out, several headers try without success and the ball ends up in the goal to score the 1-0 of the match, which is scored shortly after and again due to a dead ball action.

This time the center went to the far post and a series of blocks left only Lenglet, who headed towards the six-yard box for Belgian Leander Dendocker to convert the 2-0 result which gives him the victory and the top of the ranking. positions at Aston Villa.

And the Martinez drawing? The Argentine goalkeeper had a quiet first half which forced him to do some scrums until United made it 0-2 with his players pressing him from the Old Trafford stands.

In the previous match, Liverpool beat Burnley

Without the injured Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool beat Burnley 2-0 away and remained leaders of the Premier League on the traditional ‘Boxing Day’, where Darwin Núñez ended his goal drought.

In the 6th minute the Uruguayan opened the scoring with a narrow shot from the edge of the area and in the end the Colombian Luis Díaz helped the Portuguese Diogo Jota (90′) to close the game.

For Núñez, this goal ended a run of 12 consecutive matches in all club competitions without scoring, while Jota, returning from a month’s injury, scored his 50th goal in a Liverpool shirt.

After draws against Manchester United (0-0) and Arsenal (1-1) in the last two matchdays, the ‘Reds’ are back in the lead with 42 points, two more than the ‘Gunners’, who on Thursday close their 19th matchday at home against West Ham (6th).

For their part, Burnley remains in the relegation zone (19th) and finished the match without having a shot on target.