Aston Villa Roma Emi Martinez
(Credit: Imago)
Max Wilkins
Wed 6 August 2025 21:37, UK
Aston Villa secured their second win of pre-season against Roma on Wednesday.
The Villans welcomed the Serie A giants to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on 6 August to continue their preparations ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
With the Italians a week behind in their summer work, Unai Emery’s side were able to take advantage with a blistering start in Walsall.
Goals from Emi Buendia, Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins put Villa three goals up before half-time in what was an electric opening 45 minutes.
A host of changes in the second half did disrupt the rhythm, but that didn’t stop Donyell Malen from scoring again to hand his side a 4-0 victory.
Villa News now rates each player’s performance out of 10.
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Emi Martinez impresses for Aston Villa v Roma
The clash at the Bescot was the first time that Martinez had featured in front of a stadium filled with Villa faithful away from the US this summer.
It is fair to say that the Argentina international received an excellent reaction and delivered a performance that matched that.
Despite not having to actually make a save, the distribution of the 32-year-old was nothing short of superb throughout his 45-minute cameo.
With Roma operating with a man-to-man marking and pressing system, it was always going to be the keeper who had the most space.
The ex-Arsenal man utilised this in excellent fashion and picked out a number of excellent long-range balls to open up the away outfit regularly throughout the first half.
Emi Martinez Aston Villa
Emi Martinez was excellent for Aston Villa v Roma (Credit: Imago)
Leon Bailey frustrates v Roma
With the exit rumours surrounding Bailey, it is little surprise that his performance failed to truly catch the eye in Walsall.
The Jamaica international was unable to do anything of note, similarly to the majority of last campaign while wearing claret and blue.
Stat (Premier League 24/25) Leon Bailey
Apperances 24
Goals 1
Assists 2
Leon Bailey Aston Villa stats 24/25
The 27-year-old featured in a raft of second-half changes, and it is fair to say that he wasn’t missed despite being 3-0 up at the break.
If this was seen as a chance at earning a spot in the first team under Emery before Evann Guessand comes in from OGC Nice, the winger failed to impose himself massively.
Leon Bailey Aston Villa
Leon Bailey once again struggled to prove himself for Aston Villa (Credit: Imago)
Aston Villa player ratings v Roma
Emi Martinez – 8
Lamare Bogarde – 6
Ezri Konsa – 7
Tyrone Mings – 5
Ian Maatsen – 4
Boubacar Kamara – 7
Youri Tielemans – 5
Leon Bailey – 4
Jacob Ramsey – 6
Emi Buendia – 7
Ollie Watkins – 8
Substitutes
Marco Bizot – 5
Matty Cash – 6
Pau Torres – 5
Lucas Digne – 5
Amadou Onana – 5
John McGinn – 5
Morgan Rogers – 5
Donyell Malen – 7
Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba – 6
George Hemmings – 5
Samuel Iling-Junior – 6
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