On Tuesday night, Aston Villa’s under-21s triumphed 3-2 over Fleetwood Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, showcasing Emiliano Buendia in a promising light. The Argentine midfielder, who captained the team alongside Ross Barkley and Jacob Ramsey, ended a 465-day competitive absence, which dated back to Villa’s final-day win over Brighton in May 2023.
Buendia’s return was highly anticipated. After contributing to Villa’s Conference League qualification, he suffered a serious ACL injury in training just before last season began, sidelining him for over a year. During his absence, Villa saw new faces like Morgan Rogers and Jaden Philogene join the squad, while Leon Bailey had an impressive season. The competition for starting spots under Unai Emery is fierce.
In this match, Buendia needed game time to assess his physical condition, even though it wasn’t a Champions League fixture. Playing against a League Two side like Fleetwood Town, who had previously eliminated West Brom and Rotherham from the EFL Cup, provided a valuable test.
Buendia’s performance was notable. Despite a shaky start, he soon demonstrated his skill and positional awareness. He opened the scoring with a brilliant volley from a set-piece and later scored a second goal from close range. Even though he showed signs of fatigue in the second half, his leadership and communication with younger teammates were evident.
Throughout the match, Buendia had several key moments: he won a free kick early on, tried to link up with teammates, and displayed glimpses of his past quality. He showed frustration after a misplaced pass, but his contribution was clear when he scored two goals and created chances for others.
His leadership was apparent, as he actively encouraged and guided his younger teammates. Emery, observing from the sidelines, saw a positive performance from Buendia, which will be beneficial given the midfielder’s lengthy absence and the manager’s extensive midfield options.
Buendia’s detailed performance included moments of rustiness but also flashes of his potential. From winning a free kick to scoring two goals and linking up well with teammates, his return was a significant step forward for both him and Aston Villa.