Aston Villa played a game to end their training camp in the Middle East
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Updated 07:00, 21 Mar 2025
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery (Image: PA)
Aston Villa completed their international break training camp with a win over Al-Ain FC at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
Villa have been spending time on a warm weather training camp in the Middle East in order to prepare themselves for a big push in final weeks of the season.
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As part of those preparations, they played the match against UAE Pro League side Al-Ain on Thursday evening, kick off time locally at 10pm (7pm UK time). Al-Ain are currently fifth in their league.
Al-Ain are managed by former Watford boss Vladimir Ivic and have centre half Fabio Cardoso, on loan from Porto, among their ranks. The game between the two sides was open to the local public free of charge.
The game gave manager Unai Emery a chance to keep his players not on international duty active and involved as a useful way to end the training camp.
What happened
Villa's website reports : "Marco Asensio, Axel Disasi and Kane Taylor were on target in the first half against the UAE Pro League side at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
"The home side took the lead following a swift counter-attack in the 12 th minute, Oliwier Zych saving Mohamed Awadallah’s initial strike before the forward converted the rebound. But Villa levelled just seven minutes later as Asensio superbly volleyed home Boubacar Kamara’s neat flick over the top.
"And that was the way it remained until the 43 rd minute as Asensio clipped a free-kick into the penalty area and Disasi was on hand to poke home from close range. The visitors duly doubled their advantage in injury time as the ball broke for Taylor on the left and he drilled low across goal and into the net.
"But defences reigned supreme as it remained 3-1 to Villa at the final whistle, bringing the curtain down on the club’s mid-season trip."
OneFootball reports : More importantly, it was good for someone like Pau Torres, who is working back from injury, to get a good run in. It was also nice for Jacob Ramsey to be involved in the goal-scoring effort as he tallied an assist. There weren't any injuries or knocks picked up, and Emery can look back positively on this Aston Villa trip to Dubai.
What the supporters said
@1966Wall - Mission accomplished, when is the team returning? UTV!
@habz360 - Up the Abu Dhabi Lions!
@jason_connolly - Marco Asensio scores, water is wet.
@Villafazza2 - We just can’t keep a clean sheet. UTV