Aston Villa face their first major test of pre-season when they visit Portuguese champions Porto on Saturday night.
This ReadAstonVilla preview covers the team news, likely line-up, players to watch and television details.
The friendly takes place at the Estádio do Dragão and kicks off at 8pm BST on Saturday, 25 July. Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch the match live through VillaTV, with individual match passes priced at £6.99. Aston Villa have confirmed the full streaming details.
Porto will also present their squad and summer signings to the home support before kick-off. The occasion should create a more competitive atmosphere than Villa experienced in their opening friendly.
Unai Emery’s side began pre-season with a comfortable 5-0 victory over Walsall on Tuesday. Brian Madjo scored twice, while George Hemmings, Luka Lynch and Aidan Borland were also on target.
ReadAstonVilla’s report from the Walsall victory also covered João Gomes’ first appearance following his move from Wolves. Emery used 23 players and changed almost his entire team at half-time.
Porto v Aston Villa preview and team news
Villa remain without Amadou Onana following surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered at the World Cup. Several players involved in the latter stages of the tournament are also not expected to feature in Portugal.
Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn and Ollie Watkins were absent against Walsall after their international commitments. Johan Manzambi is also expected to miss the game after suffering an injury during Switzerland’s World Cup campaign.
Sports Mole’s Porto v Aston Villa team news suggests Emery will again rely on a mixture of senior players and academy prospects.
Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash, Ian Maatsen, Ross Barkley, Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia are among the experienced players available. Gomes could make his first start after playing the second half at Walsall.
Madjo should remain involved after scoring twice on Tuesday. The 17-year-old led the line confidently and now has an opportunity to test himself against stronger central defenders.
Porto are also missing players who went deep into the World Cup. Goalkeeper Diogo Costa and midfielder Stephen Eustaquio are among those unlikely to feature, while striker Samu Aghehowa remains sidelined with a serious knee injury.
What Emery will want to see against Porto
The result remains secondary, but the quality of the opposition gives Emery a useful chance to assess Villa’s defensive organisation.
Walsall rarely placed Villa under sustained pressure. Porto should press with greater intensity and ask more questions of Emery’s build-up structure.
Gomes will receive particular attention if he starts. The Brazilian added aggression and ball-winning ability on his debut, but Villa will also need him to remain disciplined when Porto move possession quickly through midfield.
The match could offer another important opportunity for Koba Cissé. The summer signing can play centrally or in midfield and should benefit from facing an opponent with Champions League-level quality.
Villa also need to see whether their younger forwards can maintain the same composure they showed at Walsall. Madjo, Hemmings and Lynch all made an impact, although space should be harder to find at the Dragão.
ReadAstonVilla’s complete pre-season guide outlines the increasingly demanding schedule ahead. Villa face Real Sociedad next before travelling to Asia and later meeting Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Porto players Aston Villa must watch
Rodrigo Mora is one of Porto’s most dangerous young players. The 19-year-old can receive possession between midfield and defence before creating chances around the penalty area.
Borja Sainz offers a more direct threat from the left. Villa’s right side must prevent him from isolating defenders and moving inside towards goal.
Gabri Veiga could also influence the match from an advanced midfield position. His movement should provide a stronger examination of Villa’s midfield structure than Walsall managed.
Porto are further ahead in their preparations, with the Portuguese Super Cup scheduled for 1 August. Their players may therefore operate at a higher intensity than Villa, who do not begin their Premier League campaign until 23 August.
Predicted Aston Villa line-up
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Joe Gauci; Matty Cash, Koba Cissé, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen; Ross Barkley, João Gomes; Leon Bailey, Emi Buendia, George Hemmings; Brian Madjo.
Emery is likely to make extensive changes during the second half. Samuel Iling-Junior, Luka Lynch, Aidan Borland and several other academy prospects should receive minutes.
Score prediction
Porto 1-1 Aston Villa
Porto should provide a far more demanding test than Walsall. Villa are still without several senior internationals, but the experience available around their younger players could help Emery’s side earn a draw.
