Aston Villa play a friendly against Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium on Friday evening. The match, scheduled for a 7.30pm BST kick-off, falls during the international break and offers manager Unai Emery a chance to evaluate his squad.
Villa head into the fixture 16th in the Premier League with four points from five games. Their last outing was a 3-2 away win at Tottenham on September 19, a result that ended a run of three consecutive league defeats.
Fofana’s preparation and potential role
Midfielder Youssouf Fofana has used his time off to maintain fitness, sharing videos of himself training in Paris before returning to Seville. His involvement in the Antonio Puerta Trophy match remains subject to selection, but his presence would be a notable attraction.
"If Fofana plays, his performance should offer a useful test of how quickly Villa’s midfield can settle into its passing rhythm," said a club source. The game provides more than just minutes, with the quality of opposition from Sevilla helping Emery assess players pushing for greater roles.
Friday also marks a return to the ground where Emery built his reputation, winning three consecutive Europa League titles. Villa's next competitive match is a Premier League home game against fourth-placed Brentford on October 10. Check the latest standings for the full league context.
