Walsall: last year’s upset looks difficult to repeat

Walsall’s victory over Aston Villa last summer was a rare bright spot in this matchup. Before that surprise result, the lower-league side had suffered eight consecutive defeats against their Birmingham rivals, suggesting that the win was more of an exception than a sign of a shift in the balance of power.

The past campaign brought little improvement for Walsall, with the club continuing to experience frequent changes both on the touchline and within the squad. Their only preseason outing so far was also far from encouraging, as they failed to score against a struggling Northern Irish side — a worrying sign ahead of facing Premier League opposition.

Aston Villa: Emery starts another phase of squad building

For Aston Villa, this fixture comes at the very beginning of their preseason schedule. The players are still working towards full fitness, and Unai Emery is expected to use the match as an opportunity to test different formations, combinations, and squad options.

Villa have seen some important departures this summer, including Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, with replacements still being integrated. However, Emery still has a squad with significantly greater depth and quality, giving the Premier League side a clear advantage even if rotation is expected.

Match facts and head-to-head history

Walsall defeated Aston Villa 1-0 in last year’s friendly meeting.

Before that result, Walsall had lost eight straight matches against Aston Villa.

Walsall failed to score in their only preseason friendly against a struggling Northern Irish opponent.

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