Marco Asensio speaks out after becoming first player in NINE years to miss two penalties in a Premier League game as ex-Real Madrid star goes from hero to zero at Aston Villa

The Paris Saint-Germain loanee had the opportunity to break the deadlock for Aston Villa against Southampton on Saturday in the 69th minute after Jan Bendarek brought down Ollie Watkins inside the area. Asensio, however, failed to convert the spot-kick. However, Watkins soon scored his team's first goal before Donyell Malen doubled Villa's lead. Asensio then got a second penalty in the game's dying minutes but failed to find the back of the net as Aaron Ramsdale saved his shot. Fortunately for the ex-Real Madrid star, though, John McGinn was quick to react as he pounced on the rebound ball and sealed a 3-0 win for Villa.

Asensio is the first player in nine years to miss two penalty attempts in a Premier League match. West Brom's Saido Berahino was the last player to miss back-to-back spot-kicks against Watford in 2015. The other players who have missed two consecutive penalties in a match are Sunderland's Darren Bent against Tottenham in 2010 and former Aston Villa star Juan Pablo Angel against Fulham in 2005.

Despite his nightmare outing at St Mary's Stadium, Asensio was elated for his club, who picked up another crucial three points in their bid to finish in the Champions League place. Taking to X, the winger wrote: "Sometimes these things can happen, the most important is to keep trying. Happy for another 3 points away. Thank you for the support Villans!"

Unai Emery's side, who moved up to the fifth position in the league table after Saturday's win, will next host PSG in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final fixture at home on April 15, where they will be aiming to overturn a 3-1 aggregate deficit.