In a goal-packed tournament which ended with a second place finish behind inaugural winners Chelsea, Aston Villa completed the Premier League’s new Summer Series with two 3-3 draws and a win.
While Stateside, Villa played out six-goal thrillers against both Newcastle United and Brentford, with a 2-0 success against Fulham sandwiched between.
Sunday’s clash with the Bees in Maryland saw new club-record signing Moussa Diaby continue to make an impact, as the French forward scored his second goal in two friendly appearances to put the Villans 2-1 up against their top-flight rivals.
Matty Cash and ex-Brentford defender Ezri Konsa were both on the scoresheet too – the latter netting a stunning solo goal against his former club – as Unai Emery’s side eventually settled for an eventful draw at FedEx Field.
Remaining unbeaten throughout pre-season so far – having returned to action with a 1-1 draw against near neighbours Walsall – Villa will also visit Valencia this weekend, ahead of their Premier League opener at Newcastle on August 12.
First, though, they return to Bescot Stadium, where Emery’s preparations for an upcoming Europa Conference League playoff continue against continental opposition.
After the Basque coach’s arrival in mid-season, Villa stormed up the standings to finish seventh at the end of their 2022-23 campaign, so they now eagerly await next week’s draw ahead of a much-anticipated European return.
While Lazio were no strangers to UEFA competition as Aston Villa toiled in both the Premier League and Championship over the past decade, it has been three years since the Rome club last reached the Champions League, which they will return to this autumn after last term’s top-four Serie A finish.
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The Biancocelesti sewed up second place in the standings by beating Empoli in their final fixture of the 2022-23 season, to finish ‘best of the rest’ behind Scudetto-winners Napoli.
Posting a total of 74 points to sit above outgoing champions Milan, city rivals Roma and Champions League finalists Inter, Lazio recorded their second-best tally in a top-flight campaign.
It seems ‘Sarrisimo’ is truly taking hold in Rome, but a familiar face has been missing from the squad during a pre-season schedule featuring successive wins over Primorje, Triestina and Slovenian minnows NK Bravo.
Lazio’s midfield general was among those heading to Saudi Arabia this summer on lucrative contracts, so after several years of service, Milinkovic-Savic will be absent on Thursday and for their Serie A opener at Lecce’s Via Del Mare.
