Concluding their pre-season programme on Saturday, ahead of the Premier League's return next weekend, Southampton welcome Villarreal to St Mary's Stadium.
While Saints have experienced mixed fortunes in recent friendlies, their visitors - Champions League semi-finalists just three months ago - have been building momentum for the upcoming La Liga campaign.
Match preview
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Southampton took to the field for Wednesday's visit of Monaco still seeking their first victory of the summer programme, and returning to play in front of their own fans at St Mary's had the desired effect.
Coming back from a goal behind against their Ligue 1 counterparts, after Aleksandr Golovin opened the scoring in the first half, Saints struck back with three second-half goals to improve Ralph Hasenhuttl's mood.
The Austrian head coach saw his side draw level six minutes after the interval, as Adam Armstrong netted his second goal of pre-season, before Stuart Armstrong came off the bench to score a second and talisman James Ward-Prowse added the third with a characteristically crisp finish.
Aiming to improve on last term's 15th-placed finish, in a season where they accrued just 40 Premier League points, Hasenhuttl has retained the services of his indispensable skipper and made some notable additions too - including the captures of Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo and Republic of Ireland number one Gavin Bazunu.
He will be relieved, then, to have got off the mark against Monaco, having previously posted two goalless draws and been beaten 3-1 by former employers RB Leipzig.
One final run-out on Saturday is all that remains of Southampton's preparations for the challenges ahead, with the clock ticking down to their season opener at Tottenham next weekend.
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In contrast to their hosts' sluggish start to pre-season, Villarreal arrive on the South Coast having racked up three straight wins over the past fortnight.
Last Sunday, Unai Emery's side added a 1-0 victory over Reims to previous wins against PSV and Borussia Dortmund, as they ready themselves for another assault on La Liga's top four.
Despite their heroics in reaching the semis of last season's Champions League, the Yellow Submarine could only finish seventh in Spain's top flight, so are consigned to the Europa Conference League this term.
Nonetheless, as they prepare to face Serie A runners-up Inter Milan after concluding their English sojourn at Fulham on Sunday, Villarreal are unbeaten so far this summer, having returned to action with a 1-1 draw against Sporting in Portugal.
Set to begin their league campaign away to Real Valladolid next month, the 2021 Europa League winners are determined to get off to a flying start, and despite minimal recruitment so far, should prove formidable opponents this weekend.
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Team News
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While winger Nathan Tella is facing several weeks on the sidelines with a recent knee injury - following an injury-plagued campaign last term - Ralph Hasenhuttl has received some positive news elsewhere in the Southampton treatment room.
Against Monaco, Romain Perraud played his first minutes since recovering from a broken leg, while Nathan Redmond also returned to put in a 70-minute shift in his first appearance of the summer.
Hasenhuttl has hinted that he will opt for a back three to start the season, in the hope of providing more defensive stability, so Perraud and Redmond could again feature in the wing-back positions, though Kyle Walker-Peters is capable of deputising on either flank.
Meanwhile, recent signing Joe Aribo is a contender to support Adam Armstrong and Che Adams up front, with Armando Broja having returned to Chelsea. Former Manchester City man Gavin Bazunu starts in goal.
During a quiet transfer window to date - with veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina and Jose Luis Morales arriving on free transfers; Sergio Asenjo and Serge Aurier departing - Unai Emery has shaped his Villarreal squad for the new season by fielding familiar faces.
Star striker Gerard Moreno is therefore likely to be joined in the final third by Dutch forward Arnaut Danjuma, while centre-back Pau Torres - who continues to be linked with a switch to the Premier League - is also set to start for the visitors.
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Bazunu; Stephens, Bednarek, Lyanco; Walker-Peters, Romeu, Diallo, Perraud; Aribo; A. Armstrong, Adams
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza; Pino, Parejo, Coquelin, Chukwueze; Danjuma, Moreno
We say: Southampton 1-2 Villarreal
Though results matter less before the competitive action kicks off, Southampton will have been glad to pick up a first win against Monaco. However, they are stepping up in class on Saturday.
With European pedigree and plenty of attacking options to choose from, Villarreal can continue their successful spell by getting the better of defensively dubious hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
