Walsall vs Aston Villa tips, predictions and confirmed team news

Aston Villa get their pre-season preparations underway with a friendly against Walsall on Wednesday at 7:30pm.

This is set to be a big campaign for Unai Emery’s team, taking part in the top level of European football for the first time in over 40 years. The Villans finished fourth in the Premier League last season, securing a long-awaited return to the Champions League.

This will be the first of seven pre-season friendlies for Villa, a Midlands derby against nearby Walsall who are preparing for another season in League Two.

Walsall vs Aston Villa prediction and tips

Pre-season games can be pretty unpredictable, particularly when a team is just starting. However, sometimes all you can expect is goals. Teams at this stage are playing more for fitness than results, so you’ll see a lot of changes as the game goes on. And although these changes bring fresh legs, they often mess up the flow of the game as players need to get up to speed. As a result, goals often flow in the second half.

And that’s before you consider the gulf between these two sides, a team playing in the Champions League and one who finished mid-table in the fourth tier.

An unprecedented joy

As mentioned, Villa will be playing Champions League football this season. It’s not something anyone would have predicted at the start of the previous campaign, but it’s testament to the work being done by Unai Emery at Villa Park. And the former Arsenal boss has admitted that it was the goal for the club.

“It’s our dream, it was our dream when we started the season to be here,” Emery said.

“To play Champions League is, after the Premier League, the best. You can play in the Premier League against the best teams in the world, it’s very difficult.

“When you are playing in the Champions League you are playing against the best teams, at the same time, from other countries. And it’s amazing. And we are always responsible about the history here, we know the history of Aston Villa is so long and so successful.”

Securing Champions League football for the 2024/25 season is particularly meaningful for captain John McGinn, as he is one of the few players who have contributed to Villa’s journey from the Championship to Europe’s top table.

“Tyrone [Mings] and I were at the club in the Championship, us two, Jacob [Ramsey] and Kortney [Hause] were the only ones remaining,” McGinn said.

“There’s four of us here who were part of that Championship journey.

“We got promoted, we got into the Premier League and were seven points behind with four games to play, we managed to stay in the league.

“We kept building and thankfully we’ve achieved something we haven’t done for 40 years. So, on behalf of all the players and staff, we’re over the moon, we’re delighted.”

Walsall vs Aston Villa latest team news

Aston Villa have been busy building their squad for Champions League football, with six players joining the club so far. Ian Maatsen, Cameron Archer, Samuel Iling-Junior, Lewis Dobbin, Enzo Barrenechea and Ross Barkley have either already started settling into their new surroundings or will do so in the forthcoming weeks, with Douglas Luiz being the most notable departure.

None of Villa’s international players are expected here, with Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins playing in their respective continental tournament finals.

Walsall finished 11th in League Two last season. Former club defender Mat Sadler has been in charge since 2023.

This summer, Josh Gordon and Charlie Lakin joined as free agents, both having most recently played at Burton Albion. David Okagbue and Tommy Simkin relocated from Stoke U21, while Connor Barrett, another free agent, comes from Fylde.

How to watch Walsall vs Aston Villa Live

Walsall and Aston Villa kicks off on Wednesday, 17 July, at 7.30pm (UK time) and will be streamed live in the UK on VillaTV.