Aston Villa will reportedly play Villarreal in their final pre-season friendly of the summer before the new Premier League season begins
Estadio de la Ceramica
Estadio de la Ceramica(Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa could be set to feature in a pre-season friendly match against Unai Emery's old side this summer, just before their new Premier League campaign commences midway through August.
Villa have already begun to form how their pre-season campaign looks like; they will head to the US again and take on MLS sides St Louis City and Nashville as well as Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt. Serie A giants AS Roma will then visit Villa at the nearby Bescot Stadium.
Prior to the US tour, Villa will kick things off against another German side, Hansa Rostock, at their Ostseestadion home ground. Now, reports coming out of Spain claim that the Lions will round of their preparations for the new campaign with a visit to Emery's home nation and former club.
El Periodico Mediterraneo report that Villa will face off against La Liga competitiors and Champions League side Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica - or El Madrigal - on Saturday 10 August, the week before Villa kick off their Premier League season against Newcastle United on home soil.
Villarreal, managed nowadays by Marcelino Garcia Toral, won their final six games and consequently finished fifth in La Liga last season - like in the Premier League, it was enough for them to book their place in the Champions League this term because of the Spanish top tier's coefficient ranking.
The Yellow Submarine won the Europa League in 2021, under Emery, when they beat Manchester United 11-10 on penalties in the final. Pau Torres - another Villa individual who would be returning to his former club in the event the friendly is confirmed - played the entire game and scored his spot-kick in the shoot-out, too. It was, and remains their only, first major trophy.
The report adds that they are unsure as to the sort of reception Emery will receive, after he left for Villa in the autumn of 2022, but that Villarreal born and club academy product Torres can expect a warm welcome back.
adidas Aston Villa range - how to get yours!
Aston Villa have announced that they are selling a new range of fashion items that fans are going to be clamouring to get hold of ahead of the new season - including a limited edition of the iconic adidas Samba range.
The Villa colours are displayed on the trainers and they also show off the Villa badge. You can get your pair here
You can also find an adidas DNA hoody which comes in simple Villa colours and a low key traditional adidas design. That can be bought here
The same design can be found on classic adidas track top on offer, this is the type of track top that fans love to wear - that can be bought here
The DNA range continues with a claret and blue t-shirt - found here, and on the training pants which can also be matched with any of the items - they are here
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