Aston Villa secured a 3-1 friendly win over Sevilla in the Antonio Puerta Trophy on Friday. The victory in Spain provides a positive note ahead of the Premier League return, with the club currently 16th in the table on four points from five games.
Villa fell behind when Sevilla's Iván Romero scored in the 53rd minute. The response was strong, with Ross Barkley levelling the score in the 71st minute. Alejandro Garnacho then put the visitors ahead eight minutes later, before substitute Max Jenner sealed the 3-1 result with a goal in the 83rd minute.
Both managers used the occasion to rotate their squads heavily. Unai Emery made five changes at half-time, introducing Barkley and others, with further substitutions throughout the second period. Sevilla were without several players due to international duty, a situation mirrored for Villa who were missing ten first-team players.
The win extends Villa's recent run of form to four victories in their last five matches across all competitions. They now turn their focus to a key Premier League home fixture against fourth-placed Brentford on 10 October.
