Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins(Image: Getty)
Unai Emery has selected his starting XI to face Villarreal in Aston Villa’s eighth and final pre-season friendly of the summer.
Villa lost 3-1 against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome last night, which followed a 4-0 victory over AS Roma last Wednesday.
Emery will give some of the players who didn’t start against Marseille the chance to get 90 minutes under their belts against Villarreal, who will play in the Champions League next term.
Today, Emi Martinez starts in goal behind a defence of Triston Rowe, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen.
Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans operate in the double pivot, while Leon Bailey, Emi Buendia and Jamal Jimoh-Aloba support the striker, Ollie Watkins.
Villa vs Villarreal: Martinez, Rowe, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Tielemans, Bailey, Buendia, Jimoh-Aloba, Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Proctor, Cash, Mings, Moreno, McGinn, Digne, Malen, Iling-Jr, Onana, Bogarde, Guessand, Dobbin, Ramsey, Hemmings, Petterson, Mosquera, Burrowes.
Get your Aston Villa pre-season special edition of the Birmingham Mail
It promises to be an exciting season ahead for Aston Villa as Unai Emery's side look to build on last season's efforts and will look to finish even higher this time around.
Despite not achieving the same feat of the 2023/2024 season by securing a UEFA Champion's League spot — the 2024/25 campaign proved to be a decent one for the Villains. Villa managed to get into continental football by qualifying for the Europa League and will play their third consecutive season of European competition.
It looks as though there is a lot to look forward to this coming campaign. And with that in mind, we have produced our Aston Villa 2025/26 Kick-Off special — our brilliant guide to the new season.
Our team will help you navigate through what to expect from your team this coming season, turn the spotlight on Emery while also providing in-depth analysis and opinion on your club. We look at the summer's biggest signings, check out each ground, study the managers - new and old - and test your knowledge with our Premier League quiz.
And we also have a full fixtures guide so you don't miss a game in what is set to be a thrilling season. The guide is available at retailers from August 6 but can be pre-ordered online now and it is a must have for any Aston Villa fan. It is the perfect accompaniment to the season and you can own it before the squad's opening fixture of the Premier League when they welcome Newcastle United to Villa Park on Saturday, August, 16.
Priced £3.50, pre-order your copy nowfrom our online store and get it delivered direct to your door.
Available to purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in Birmingham from August 6, 2025. For online purchases, postage and packaging applies. Worldwide shipping is available.
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