Preview:Villarreal vs Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

Completing preparations for the new Premier League season, Aston Villa will play their final summer friendly on Sunday, as they visit Villarreal at El Madrigal.

Linked together by Villa manager Unai Emery, both clubs are within a week of starting the 2025-26 campaign, following a busy pre-season schedule.

Match preview

After a sixth-placed league finish and two deep runs in cup competitions, Aston Villa will look to build on another positive season when competitive action starts again next weekend.

Departing loanees aside, the Birmingham club have so far retained their main men despite persistent speculation, while adding a few reinforcements to the squad that reached last term's Champions League quarter-finals.

Having started pre-season with successive defeats to Walsall and Hansa Rostock - both times fielding a young lineup - Unai Emery's men then completed an unbeaten U.S. tour.

Following Stateside draws against Eintracht Frankfurt and Nashville, either side of a 2-1 victory over St Louis City, Villa returned to the West Midlands to play Roma on Wednesday evening.

A fine first-half display put the result beyond doubt at Walsall's Bescot Stadium, as goals from Jacob Ramsey, Ollie Watkins and an Emi Buendia special stunned the Giallorossi into submission. Like Buendia, Donyell Malen has impressed throughout the summer, and his late strike capped a promising performance.

Now, after meeting Marseille and before hosting Newcastle United in their Premier League opener, Villa will head for one of their manager's old clubs.

In the coming months, Emery will be aiming to win the Europa League with a third team, having already lifted the trophy three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.

Under current coach Marcelino, the latter are bound for the Champions League this season, after finishing fifth in La Liga last term.

In preparation, El Submarino Amarillo packed their summer schedule with tests against European opposition, playing out draws against Basel, Real Oviedo and St. Gallen; losing to Sporting Lisbon and Genoa.

Ahead of next Friday's league opener at home to Real Oviedo, they undertook a trio of games against English sides, first drawing 1-1 with Leeds United before beating Arsenal 3-2 in London.

Ending Villarreal's winless run in some style, Marcelino's men led from the 16th minute to seal a confidence-boosting success over the Gunners; now, they hope to sign off pre-season with an elusive home win.

Villarreal pre-season form: D L L D D W

Aston Villa pre-season form: L D W D W L

Team News

Although speculation still surrounds the future of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Emiliano Martinez and captain John McGinn, as the new season draws near they are still in Aston Villa's squad and should all be involved on Sunday.

Unai Emery is set to name a strong XI on his return to El Madrigal - potentially including ex-Villarreal man Pau Torres - but he may give more minutes to fringe players such as Triston Rowe and Jamal Jimoh after Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Marseille.

Only Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia are injured, while Morgan Rogers is struggling with a minor ankle issue; Yasin Ozcan has already left on loan, but new signing Evann Guessand will be available.

Villarreal, meanwhile, have suffered several setbacks on the fitness front this summer: Logan Costa will miss most of the 2025-26 season due to an ACL injury, while Willy Kambwala has been ruled out for several weeks by a hamstring tear.

Alongside midfielder Alex Baena and French forward Thierno Barry, veteran centre-back Raul Albiol has also departed, leaving Marcelino a little short of defensive numbers.

Still, the former Valencia boss managed to sign Rafa Marin and Santiago Mourino, who could be paired together in central defence.

Villarreal possible starting lineup: Junior; Foyth, Mourino, Marin, Cardona; Pepe, Gueye, Parejo, Pino; Eyong, Moreno

Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Martinez; Rowe, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, Buendia, Jimoh; Watkins