Aston Villa’s pre-season preparations conclude with a tough test against Italian giants Roma at the Bescot Stadium. This friendly match comes at a critical time for both clubs as they fine-tune their tactics and give new signings valuable minutes before the start of the 2025/26 season. For Aston Villa, this is their first home-soil match since returning from a tour of the USA. For Roma, this match is part of a final “Premier League double-header” to conclude their pre-season tour, with a match against Everton to follow.
The match will be played at a neutral venue, the Bescot Stadium, home of Walsall FC. This removes any home advantage for Aston Villa, making it a more balanced and intriguing contest. Both clubs have made significant moves in the transfer market, and this match will be an excellent opportunity for their respective managers, Unai Emery and Gian Piero Gasperini, to assess their new-look squads. With the Premier League and Serie A seasons just around the corner, this is a crucial final chance for both sides to gain momentum and build confidence.
Match Details
- Competition: Club Friendlies
- Location: Walsall, England
- Stadium: Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium
- Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
- Kick-off Time: 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM BST
- Indian Time (IST): 12:00 AM IST (Thursday, August 7, 2025)
- Referee: N/A
Head-to-Head & Form Guide
Aston Villa and Roma have never faced each other in a competitive match, making this a historic first encounter between the two clubs. As such, recent pre-season form will be the primary indicator of their readiness for this match.
Aston Villa:
Aston Villa has had a mixed pre-season, with their results being a bit inconsistent. They lost their opening two matches before a 2-2 draw with Frankfurt, a 2-1 win over St. Louis City, and a 2-2 draw with Nashville. They have not been in great form, but manager Unai Emery has focused on giving players match fitness and integrating new signings into the team. Key players to watch for Aston Villa include striker Ollie Watkins and new signing Donyell Malen, who will be crucial to their attack. The team’s ability to create chances and be more clinical in front of goal will be a key factor in this match.
- August 2, 2025: Nashville SC 2–2 Aston Villa (Club Friendly)
- July 30, 2025: St. Louis City 1–2 Aston Villa (Club Friendly)
- July 26, 2025: Eintracht Frankfurt 2–2 Aston Villa (Club Friendly)
- July 19, 2025: Hansa Rostock 3–1 Aston Villa (Club Friendly)
Roma:
Roma has enjoyed a strong pre-season, winning all three of their matches so far. They have been particularly impressive defensively, keeping a clean sheet in each of their victories. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini has seen his team perform well, with new signings like Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk already making a positive impact. Roma’s solid defense and a dynamic attack make them a formidable opponent. The team’s confidence will be high after their perfect pre-season record, and they will be eager to maintain that momentum against Aston Villa.
- August 2, 2025: Lens 0–2 Roma (Club Friendly)
- July 31, 2025: Roma 3–0 Cannes (Club Friendly)
- July 26, 2025: Kaiserslautern 0–1 Roma (Club Friendly)
- May 25, 2025: Torino 0–2 Roma (Serie A)
Tactical Analysis & Key Players
As this is a friendly match, both managers are expected to experiment with their lineups and tactical systems. Aston Villa will likely field a strong lineup, with Unai Emery looking to test his team’s readiness for the Premier League season. They will aim to play a high-intensity, possession-based game, looking to create chances through their star players. Roma, under Gasperini, will likely deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation and focus on their defensive solidity and quick transitions. The key battle will be in the midfield, where the two teams will fight for control of the game. The performance of new signings on both sides will be a key point of interest, as they look to stake a claim for a starting spot in the upcoming season.
How to Watch Aston Villa vs. Roma on TV, Live Stream
| Country | TV/Live Stream |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | VillaTV |
| Italy | N/A |
| United States | VillaTV |
| India | VillaTV |
In the United Kingdom and many other regions, the match will be available to stream live on VillaTV, Aston Villa’s official streaming platform. Fans can purchase a pre-season pass or a match-by-match pass to watch the game. Roma’s official channels may also provide a live stream, but this is not yet confirmed. Viewers should check local listings for additional broadcasting information.
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