Eiii Ghana! Aston Villa finished their pre-season strong with a 2-0 victory over Villarreal at the Estadi de la Ceràmica. The match, played on Sunday, August 10th, saw Ollie Watkins continue his impressive pre-season form, scoring the opening goal in the 23rd minute. Emi Buendia added a second goal early in the second half to secure the win for the Villans.
Watkins Shines Again
Ollie Watkins' goal was his fifth in as many pre-season friendlies, proving he's ready for the Premier League season. Despite Villarreal creating some early chances, it was Watkins who broke the deadlock with a powerful finish after Villarreal's goalkeeper parried Buendía's shot.
Buendia Seals the Deal
Emi Buendia continued his strong performance by scoring Villa's second goal. He collected the ball from Boubacar Kamara outside the box and fired a fine effort into the net. Villa's goalkeeper, Emi Martínez, also played a crucial role, making several important saves to deny Villarreal from scoring.
What's Next for Aston Villa?
This victory provides a significant boost to Aston Villa's confidence as they prepare for their Premier League campaign. Their first match is at home against Newcastle United on Saturday at 12:30pm. Villa fans are hoping the team can carry this pre-season form into the new season.
Key Moments
- 23rd minute: Ollie Watkins scores for Aston Villa.
- Second half: Emi Buendia extends Villa's lead.
- Emi Martínez makes crucial saves to keep Villarreal at bay.
Emery's Selection Dilemma
Before this match, Aston Villa suffered a 3-1 defeat to Marseille, with John McGinn scoring a chip to level the score temporarily before Aubameyang's brace sealed the win for Marseille. The game was marred by controversy, including a moment involving Tyrone Mings and Amadou Onana, and resulted in 11 yellow cards. Despite this, Unai Emery used the game to experiment with his squad, giving valuable playing time to several players.
With pre-season now complete, Unai Emery has some tough decisions to make regarding his starting lineup for the Newcastle game. The performances of Watkins and Buendia, along with Martínez's saves, have given the manager plenty to think about.