Aston Villa were patient and persistent, probing Brighton's defense throughout the match. Despite their dominance in terms of shots (15 total), they struggled to test Bart Verbruggen, with only one shot on target. However, their attacking intent was clear, especially from the flanks and through the creative midfield trio of Sancho, Rogers, and Buendia. Defensively, Villa remained solid, limiting Brighton to just three shots on target and keeping their shape well in the 4-2-3-1 setup. The breakthrough finally came late, as Ollie Watkins capitalized on a rare lapse in the Brighton backline. Villa's ability to maintain pressure and exploit set pieces (7 corners) was crucial, even if their finishing left something to be desired until the closing stages.

Brighton matched Villa in possession and were tactically disciplined, but lacked cutting edge in the final third. Their 4-3-3 formation allowed them to compete in midfield and transition quickly, but they managed just nine shots, three of which were on target. The Seagulls' defensive unit, marshaled by Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke, held firm for much of the match, but ultimately succumbed to late pressure. Brighton's physical approach was evident, conceding 15 fouls and picking up three yellow cards as they tried to disrupt Villa's rhythm. Despite flashes from Mitoma and Welbeck up front, Brighton failed to create enough high-quality chances to trouble Martinez.