Emi Martinez HOWLER gifts RB Leipzig equaliser in Aston Villa's crucial Champions League clash – Alan Shearer asks 'what on EARTH was he doing?'

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez and his team-mates conceded a goal to forget during the first-half of their Champions League clash with RB Leipzig. 

The visitors were the first to draw first blood at the Red Bull Arena, with John McGinn getting his side off the mark within the opening five minutes of the tie. 

Leipzig had offered little by way of threat as the game continued, with Villa content to sit on top and quest for their second. 

But against the run of play, Villa saw the score levelled in awkward fashion just three minutes before the half-hour mark, thanks to some quick thinking from Lois Openda. 

The Belgium international was on the run to collect a long pass from team-mate Nicolas Seiwald in Leipzig’s half in front of the box, but as Villa defenders and Martinez went to smother ball, they were deceived by its springing bounce. 

Esri Konsa, Pau Torres, Diego Carlos and Martinez well off his line could only watch in horror as Openda kept a cool head, knocked the ball past the ‘keeper, and swept it into the vacant net. 

Fans were left aghast with the display on social media, with one wondering: ‘Emi Martinez… what are you doing?’

Another added: ‘What has Martinez done there?’ 

A third weighed in: ‘My god what an awful goal to concede. Martinez and Carlos just staring at each other. Shocker.’ 

While Aston Villa currently sit nine in the Champions League standings, the new-look league phase has left few teams certain of qualification. 

Only the top eight clubs will be assured of safe passage to the knockout stages when the first phase concludes. 

Teams nine through to 24 will have to endure play-off matches at the start of next year, which head coach Unai Emery would ill afford adding to the already clogged Premier League calendar.