Aston Villa's preparations for the 2025-26 Premier League campaign will continue on Saturday when they take on French giants Marseille at Stade Velodrome.
Unai Emery's side will open their new Premier League season at home to Newcastle United on August 16, while Marseille's Ligue 1 campaign will start away to Rennes on August 15.
Match preview
Marseille enjoyed an impressive 2024-25 campaign, finishing second in the table, picking up 65 points from their 34 matches, so they will play in the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain are so difficult to stop in France, so a title challenge is unlikely in the coming season, but Les Olympiens will want to ensure that they are once again towards the top of the division, and anything less than that would have to go down as a disappointment.
Roberto De Zerbi's side have won two and drawn three of their five pre-season matches, including a 1-1 draw with Sevilla in their last friendly on August 2.
This match will represent Marseille's final friendly of the summer, with their 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign beginning away to Rennes on August 15.
Marseille have been busy during this summer's transfer window, bringing in the likes of Igor Paixao and Jonathan Rowe, while Luis Henrique and Quentin Merlin have been among their departures.
Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi pictured on August 10, 2024
Villa, meanwhile, opened their preparations for the new campaign with successive defeats to Walsall and Rostock, before drawing 2-2 with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Emery's side have won two of their last three friendlies, including a 4-0 success over Roma last time out, and they will play twice more in pre-season, following this game with a fixture against Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica.
Villa will begin their 2025-26 Premier League season at home to Newcastle United on August 16, and the club are hopeful of having a couple more new signings through the door before that match.
It has been a relatively quiet summer transfer window for Emery's team, with their only signings to date being experienced goalkeeper Marco Bizot and teenage centre-back Yasin Ozcan.
The likes of Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Emiliano Martinez are being linked with moves away from Villa Park, and it would not be a surprise if at least one of those departed before the end of the transfer window.
Marseille pre-season form:
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Aston Villa pre-season form:
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Team News
Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates with Morgan Rogers on April 12, 2025
Marseille will have new signings in their starting side for this match, with Rowe and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg all set to be involved from the first whistle, but Paixao is set to miss out through injury.
Neal Maupay is likely to feature off the bench, while loan signings Facundo Medina and Timothy Weah are also expected to be used in the second half of the contest.
Marseille have also signed Angel Gomes and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during this summer's transfer window, and the pair are set to be involved at some stage of the match, potentially from the start.
As for Villa, McGinn is set to be involved amid the speculation surrounding his future, with Newcastle United said to be keen to sign the Scotland international this summer.
Martinez and Watkins both started the clash with Roma last time out, and the pair are again set to be in the starting side, with Emery having a strong squad to choose from.
Morgan Rogers was one of Villa's outstanding players during the 2025-26 campaign, and the England international is set to start after featuring off the bench last time out.
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Meite, Garcia; Hojbjerg, Kondogbia, Gomes; Greenwood, Aubameyang, Rowe
Aston VIlla possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Mings, Konsa, Maatsen; Kamara, McGinn; Bailey, Rogers, Malen; Watkins
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We say: Marseille 1-1 Aston Villa
This will be a good test for both sides ahead of their new domestic seasons, and we are expecting a close game in France to finish with the spoils being shared.
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