Brighton races to early 2-0 lead against Aston Villa in Premier League season opener

Brighton & Hove Albion wasted no time making a statement on the opening day of the 2026-27 Premier League season, racing to a 2-0 lead against Aston Villa at the American Express Stadium on Saturday. The home fans, packed into a venue holding roughly 31,876 supporters, barely had time to settle into their seats before their side had the match firmly under control. The fast start will feel particularly sweet given how the last meeting between these two clubs played out. Back in December 2025, Brighton held a comfortable 2-0 advantage before Villa mounted a stunning comeback to win 4-3. That collapse lingers in the memory, and Brighton’s players looked determined to ensure history wouldn’t repeat itself. The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK and on NBC and Peacock in the US, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. BST (9 a.m. ET). Villa, of course, have recent evidence that deficits against Brighton are recoverable. That 4-3 win last December remains one of the more remarkable results from the 2025-26 campaign, a match that saw Villa score four unanswered goals after looking dead and buried. Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on ho...