By KBC Associate 
Aston Villa fell short of Champions League qualification on the final day of the Premier League season with a limp defeat at Manchester United after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was sent off during first-half stoppage time.
The Villans were incensed not to have gone ahead when Morgan Rogers narrowly beat Altay Bayindir to the ball as the home goalkeeper attempted to gather possession, slotting in before a Video Assistant Referee check adjudged the challenge by the England international unfair.
Amad Diallo’s 76th-minute header and Christian Eriksen’s penalty three minutes from time then condemned Villa to the Europa League by virtue of goal inferiority to Newcastle, who lost 1-0 at home to Everton.
United finished a dismal domestic season on a high four days after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham, finishing 15th in their first campaign under manager Ruben Amorim following the Portuguese’s arrival in November.
Morgan Rogers thought he had given Aston Villa the lead at Old Trafford, but referee Thomas Bramall had blown for a foul on Altay Bayindir before the ball had reached the net.
But the Manchester United goalkeeper was never in control of the ball.
Moments later, Amad gave Ruben… pic.twitter.com/7akciececv
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 25, 2025
Man United vs Aston Villa
By their underwhelming standards this season, United produced a dominant performance after familiar pre-match protests against the direction the club is taking off the pitch.
Diogo Dalot curled a shot against a post during the first half and Casemiro’s floated delivery hit the woodwork after the break, when Rasmus Hojlund also had a goal ruled out.
Martinez was dismissed for a rash challenge on Hojlund but Villa remained on course to reach the Champions League until Diallo scored, with visiting manager Unai Emery – who later confronted the officials – still seething over the decision against Rogers.
United suffered an early blow when Noussair Mazraoui was forced off with a hamstring injury, but that was incomparable to the pain Villa will have felt at missing out on a second consecutive season in the Champions League on goal difference.
When are the Premier League fixtures released 2025/26?
The full schedule will be announced at 09:00 BST on Wednesday, June 18 2025.
Premier League fixtures release date 2025/26
Dates for all matches will be made available on the Premier League website and via the official competition app.
Fans can download the schedule to their devices with the official Premier League digital calendar.
When does the 2025/26 Premier League season start and end?
The first round of matches in 2025/26 will be on the weekend of August 16 2025. The last will all start at the same time on May 24 2026.
No rounds will take place within 60 hours of each other and there will be no fixture on December 24.