Aston Villa starting XI vs Valencia as Unai Emery makes four changes

Unai Emery has named his Aston Villa starting XI to take on Valencia at the Mestalla this evening.

Villa face the La Liga side in what is their final friendly of the summer, before their 2023/24 campaign kicks-off next week against Newcastle United. Emery’s side have played five friendlies so far this summer and beat Lazio 3-0 last time out after returning from the USA on Monday having faced Newcastle United, Fulham and Brentford in the Premier League Summer Series.

Tonight’s opponents, Valencia, finished in 16th place last season after battling relegation in the Spanish top-flight. They are managed by Voro, but lost influential midfielder Yunus Musah to AC Milan this summer.

Emery has picked Emi Martinez from the off tonight, behind a defence of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres. Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara start in midfield, while Leon Bailey and John McGinn play in more advanced roles. In attack, Moussa Diaby will support Ollie Watkins.

Aston Villa XI vs Valencia: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Torres; McGinn, Luiz , Kamara, Bailey; Diaby, Watkins.

Subs: Robin Olsen, Oliwer Zych, Lucas Digne, Calum Chambers, Youri Tielemans, Emi Buendia, Philippe Coutinho, Jaden Philogene, Cameron Archer, Seb Revan, Omari Kellyman.

What do you make of Villa’s starting XI? Tell us in the comments section…

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