Sports Mole previews Saturday’s friendly clash between Spartak Trnava and Aston Villa, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aston Villa will continue their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign with a friendly against Slovakian outfit Spartak Trnava on Saturday afternoon.
Unai Emery‘s side beat Walsall 3-0 in their first pre-season match of the summer on Wednesday, while this will be Spartak Trnava’s fourth and final friendly ahead of their return to competitive action.
Match preview
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Villa finished fourth during a hugely impressive 2023-24 Premier League campaign, with Emery’s side therefore preparing to compete in the Champions League during the upcoming season.
The Lions officially started their pre-season on Wednesday evening, recording a 3-0 victory over Walsall, with Morgan Rogers netting twice and Louie Barry also on the scoresheet for the Premier League club.
Villa will play another six friendlies before opening their new Premier League season against West Ham United on August 17, while their first home game of the campaign is against Arsenal on August 24.
Emery’s side have been busy this summer in terms of the transfer market, with Douglas Luiz proving to be their biggest departure, while Ross Barkley, Enzo Barrenechea, Lewis Dobbin, Samuel Iling-Junior, Cameron Archer and Ian Maatsen have all made the move to Villa Park.
This will be Villa’s last friendly before heading off to the United States for their pre-season tour, with their first match due to take place against Columbus Crew on July 27.
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Spartak Trnava, meanwhile, play their football in Slovakia’s top flight, ending last season in third position, but they were champions during the 2017-18 campaign.
Michal Gasparik‘s side ended their last league season in the middle of May and were back in pre-season action on June 22, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Maribor.
Spartak Trnava have also lost to Bravo and Sparta Prague during their preparations for the new campaign, but they played out a 1-1 draw with Hartberg last time out.
The Slovakian outfit will begin their new domestic season against Trencin on July 28, but they will be in Conference League qualification action on July 24.
Indeed, Gasparik’s side are preparing to play the first leg of their second qualification round contest in the European competition, which will be against either Aktobe or Sarajevo.
Spartak Trnava friendly form:
Aston Villa friendly form:
Team News
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Spartak Trnava have been busy this summer in terms of incomings and outgoings, so there is a fresh look to the squad heading towards the start of their 2024-25 campaign.
Milan Corryn is among the players to have arrived this summer, and there are expected to be a number of the club’s new signings on display in this contest.
Michal Duris scored 14 times during an impressive 2023-24 campaign, and the 35-year-old is expected to be among the starters for the Slovakian outfit this weekend.
As for Villa, Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Maatsen, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins will again be among the absentees due to international commitments over the summer.
The squad will be similar to the one that took on Walsall, and Emery is expected to make 11 changes at the interval, so there will be opportunities for young players to impress.
However, a relatively experienced first XI is likely to include the likes of Rogers, Barkley, Matty Cash and Pau Torres.
Spartak Trnava possible starting lineup:
Frelih; Sulek, Sosa, Stetina, Bolaji; Kratochvil, Corryn, Ahl; Burke, Duris, Azango
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Cash, Feeney, Torres, Moreno; Barkley, Dendoncker, Barrenechea; Rogers, Archer, Iling-Junior
We say: Spartak Trnava 1-2 Aston Villa
Spartak Trnava are much further ahead in their preparations, and this has the potential to be a tricky match for Villa. However, we are expecting Emery’s side to triumph in order to make it back-to-back successes in their opening two pre-season fixtures.
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