Pre-season 2026.

[Tuscans]

Feel free to watch most of the players who won't play much if at all run a bit.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Porto away July 25th.

Excellent. Better late than never.

'The Estádio do Dragão reopens its doors on Saturday, July 25th, to host FC Porto's presentation match. Before the initial whistle, scheduled for 7 pm, the players will be called one by one for their reunion with the blue and white family.

This time the opponent is Aston Villa, a British team that has won a Champions League, a European Super Cup, a Europa League, an Intertoto Cup, seven league titles, seven FA Cups, five League Cups, and a Community Shield.

The team coached by Unai Emery is the current holder of the Europa League – having beaten SC Freiburg (3-0) in the final played in May – and will be in Porto on the eve of the European Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain'.

Hang on, I thought it was Blues that won those trophies?

[Hookeysmith]

Feel free to watch most of the players who won't play much if at all run a bit.

I know the WC players will be on extended breaks after Sunday and i know that not all returning players can return on the same day for the fitness checks

But where are the likes of Allyson (who surely needs a Pre season to build himself up)

And the kids

Iling JR
Jomoh-Aloba
Hemmings
Wilson
Burrowes

Surely they should be touching the first team by now?

[Somniloquism]

Matty Cash embracing the inevitable.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Don't think Iling has shown anything like the ability required to play for our first team, but the others hopefully have a chance.

Think Cisse may have a chance to be in the squad too.

[Hookeysmith]

If we start the season with Allyson being injured - we might as well forget him

[cdbearsfan]

Yes, because there's no way anyone could ever go on to have a successful career if he is injured aged twenty.

[Somniloquism]

So 2 days away from our first friendly. Is this going to be made a sticky thread for all of the matches chat?

July 21: Walsall vs Aston Villa - Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, 7.30pm
July 25: Porto vs Aston Villa - Estadio Do Dragao, 7pm
July 28: Aston Villa vs Real Sociedad - Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, 7.30pm
August 1: Indonesia All-Stars vs Aston Villa - Jakarta, 1pm
August 4: BG Pathum United vs Aston Villa - Pathum Thani, 1.30pm
August 7: Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich, Hong Kong, 1pm
August 12: UEFA Super Cup - PSG vs Aston Villa, Salzburg, 8pm
August 15: Borussia Monchengladbach vs Aston Villa - Borussia-Park, 2.30pm

[Dogtanian]

Has anyone seen any details about it being shown on VillaTV?

I’m assuming it’s FOC for season ticket holders? Or are they doing a pay per view again?

[adrenachrome]

Has anyone seen any details about it being shown on VillaTV?

I’m assuming it’s FOC for season ticket holders? Or are they doing a pay per view again?

Here you go, Dog.

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/16/watch-walsall-v-Villa-on-VillaTV/

[eamonn]

Matty Cash embracing the inevitable.

Yeah, we all bare our souls like monks in the end.

[Dogtanian]

Has anyone seen any details about it being shown on VillaTV?

I’m assuming it’s FOC for season ticket holders? Or are they doing a pay per view again?

Here you go, Dog.

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2025/july/16/watch-walsall-v-Villa-on-VillaTV/

Thanks! Although that’s last year 

[Drummond]

Porto away July 25th.

Excellent. Better late than never.

'The Estádio do Dragão reopens its doors on Saturday, July 25th, to host FC Porto's presentation match. Before the initial whistle, scheduled for 7 pm, the players will be called one by one for their reunion with the blue and white family.

This time the opponent is Aston Villa, a British team that has won a Champions League, a European Super Cup, a Europa League, an Intertoto Cup, seven league titles, seven FA Cups, five League Cups, and a Community Shield.

The team coached by Unai Emery is the current holder of the Europa League – having beaten SC Freiburg (3-0) in the final played in May – and will be in Porto on the eve of the European Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain'.

Hang on, I thought it was Blues that won those trophies?

You need a new diary.