Preseason football rarely tells the full story, but Aston Villa’s summer campaign has been anything but dull. From an emphatic 5-0 demolition of Walsall to a battling 2-1 defeat against European heavyweights Bayern Munich, Unai Emery’s side have swung between statement wins and painful reality checks. Here is everything you need to know about Villa’s wild ride through preseason 2026.
Aston Villa 5-0 Walsall: The Perfect Start
It all began at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on July 21, where Villa opened their campaign in emphatic fashion. Brian Madjo scored twice before half-time, with George Hemmings adding a third, before under-21 duo Luka Lynch and Aidan Borland completed the rout after the break. New £38 million signing Joao Gomes made his Villa debut in the second half, giving fans an early glimpse of the summer’s marquee arrival. Twenty-three players featured across the ninety minutes as Emery used the fixture to test combinations across his entire squad.
The Wobble: Porto and Real Sociedad Bring Villa Down to Earth
The good feeling did not last. Villa were beaten 2-1 by Porto four days later, before an even sterner test arrived against Real Sociedad, who inflicted a 4-2 defeat on the Villans. Suddenly, a preseason that started with fireworks had turned into a genuine cause for concern, with defensive frailties and rotating lineups exposing gaps that Emery would need to address before matchday one.
Bouncing Back in Asia
Villa steadied the ship on their summer tour, beating an Indonesia All-Stars select side 3-1 and following it up with another 3-1 win over Thai club BG Pathum United. Those results restored some balance to the ledger, pushing Villa’s preseason record to three wins and two defeats heading into their toughest test yet.
Aston Villa 1-2 Bayern Munich: A Measuring Stick Performance
That test came on August 7 in Hong Kong, as part of the inaugural Audi Football Summit at Kai Tak Sports Park. Bayern Munich, fresh off Vincent Kompany’s rebuild and missing stars like Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala, still had more than enough quality on the day. South Korean international Kim Min-jae opened the scoring before Colombian winger Luis Diaz, introduced from the bench, curled in a stunning strike to double the German champions’ lead.
Villa refused to fold. Joao Gomes, so impressive on his club debut weeks earlier, rifled home a spectacular consolation goal in the 83rd minute and nearly forced extra late drama with another effort that flashed inches wide. The 2-1 scoreline flattered Villa little in terms of overall control, but the fight shown in the closing stages offered genuine encouragement.
What This Means Ahead of the New Season
Six friendlies, three wins, three defeats, and enough twists to fill an entire highlight reel. That is the story of Aston Villa’s preseason heading into the 2026-27 campaign. With the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain looming on August 12 and the Premier League opener not far behind, Emery now has a clearer picture of where his squad stands.
The Bayern Munich test, in particular, showed both the gap that still exists against Europe’s elite and the resilience Villa can call upon when it matters. If this rollercoaster preseason is any indication, Aston Villa fans should strap in for another unpredictable season ahead.
