Aston Villa FC - Athletic Club

A great test for the Lions against Champions League side Aston Villa a week before the start of LaLiga.

In an entertaining friendly, with five goals score, the home side won the game in the final moments with a goal from Cameron Archer on the counter. Earlier, Athletic equalised twice with goals from Yeray and Gorka Guruzeta, first strikes of the pre-season for both players. 

Aston Villa made the most of their power and in the fourth minute Jacob Ramsey scored the first of the afternoon in Walsall. Athletic gradually got up to speed and levelled the scores from a corner as Yeray picked up a loose ball to beat Joe Gauci. 

The first half was a constant back-and-forth affair, with both sides finding the opposition box easily, but there were no further goals. 

In the second half, with Guruzeta coming on for Álvaro Djaló, Villa struck first again through Jaden Philogene after a quick combination down the left flank and a shot across goal that beat Padilla in the 60th minute.

However, Athletic did not back down and Guruzeta swept in Iñaki Williams' precise delivery from the right flank to level the match again. 

The Lions calmly dominated the game in the final stretch of the match, enjoying chances to take the victory in Walsall, but Archer, in a great counter in the 88th minute, delivered a killer blow to see the English side take victory.

Athletic face another Champions League opponent, VfB Stuttgart, on Saturday in their final warm-up game before kicking off LaLiga next Thursday at San Mames against Getafe.

Not long now until the Lions are back at La Catedral.