This summer preseason has not been kind to Aston Villa. The loss to Liga MX side Club America at Soldier Field was a new low. But hey, at least they beat Athletic Club in midweek. So now there is some positive momentum, maybe? as they head to Borussia Dortmund.
While it is just a friendly, this should still be a challenging affair against a formidable opponent.
Aston Villa at Borussia Dortmund FYIs
Kick-off time: 4PM BST, Aug 10, 2024, Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany
Competition: Club Friendly
Team News: Aston Villa Borussia Dortmund
Starting XI Predictions: Aston Villa Borussia Dortmund
Buy the book: Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America
After all, BVB were the runners-up in the UEFA Champions League last season. Look for manager Unai Emery to try and field a strong starting lineup here. Ollie Watkins is back from his post tournament leave, but he almost certainly will not be in the first team for this one.
We’re thinking Emiliano Martinez will however.
Aston Villa Starting XI Prediction at Borussia Dortmund
Emi Martinez; Matty Cash, Lamare Bogarde, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen; Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans; Leon Bailey, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Rogers
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.