Having started their build-up to the 2025-26 campaign with a shock loss, Aston Villa will visit Hansa Rostock for another pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Villa were beaten by local rivals Walsall last time out, so they now aim to get up and running with a win at Ostseestadion.

Match preview

Though they reached the latter stages of last term's Champions League - in addition to fighting for a top-five finish in the Premier League - Aston Villa ultimately missed out on returning to Europe's top competition by a whisker. 

Following a painful last-day defeat to Manchester United, Unai Emery's men had to settle for sixth spot and place in the Europa League; nonetheless, they are set for a third straight year in continental competition.

Facing a long road ahead, Villa started their preparations for the new season earlier this week, with a traditional summer friendly against nearby Walsall.

Emery took the chance to hand several youngsters some senior experience at Bescot Stadium, where his team suffered a 1-0 defeat to their League Two hosts on Wednesday.

Villa will now head to Germany and then the USA for a series of warm-up games - against Hansa Rostock, Eintracht Frankfurt, St Louis and Nashville - before returning to the Bescot for a contest with Roma. 

After wrapping up their packed pre-season schedule by meeting Marseille and Villarreal, the Birmingham club's league campaign begins with a home game against Newcastle United.

Continuing the build-up to their new season, Hansa Rostock will welcome Aston Villa to Ostseestadion as part of celebrations for the club's 60th anniversary.

Hansa - who once signed Stefan Beinlich and Matthias Breitkreutz from the Villans, back in 1994 - finished fifth in Germany's 3. Liga last term, one year on from suffering relegation.

Since residing in the Bundesliga for a decade until 2005, they have endured a prolonged period of mediocrity, so promotion back to the second tier will be their main aim again in 2025-26.

Ahead of next month's league opener against Erzgebirge Aue - soon to be followed by a DFB Pokal clash with top-flight mainstays Hoffenheim - FCH are stepping up the intensity of their preparations.

Daniel Brinkmann's side recently finished a summer training camp by beating 1.FC Magdeburg's Under-23s 4-1, but their next opponents represent a serious step-up in class.

Hansa Rostock Friendlies form: W

Aston Villa Friendlies form: L

Team News

As in midweek, Aston Villa are likely to blend some first-teamers - such as Jacob Ramsey, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley and Boubacar Kamara - with a number of rising stars.

Unai Emery gave minutes to 22 players against Walsall, making 10 changes at the break, and the same approach is expected in Rostock.

Young defender Yasin Ozcan nearly scored on his first appearance since joining the club earlier this summer, and former Feyenoord striker Zepiqueno Redmond could now feature for the first time.

Uncertainty still surrounds number one goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, new signing Marco Bizot has only just arrived, while Joe Gauci came off with a knock on Wednesday; so, Filip Marschall could start.

Meanwhile, Hansa Rostock are set to name an XI led by captain and key defender Franz Pfanne, formerly of Borussia Dortmund II.

Felix Ruschke and goalkeeper Philipp Klewin are both doubts due to injury, but Dario Gebuhr has fully recovered from an illness and could start.

Hansa Rostock possible starting lineup: Uphoff; Pfanne, Carstens, Gebuhr; Mejdr, Dietze, Schuster, Harenbrock, Kinsombi; Lebeau, Hummel

Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Marschall; Garcia, Bogarde, Mings, Ozcan; Kamara, Barkley; Young, Jimoh-Aloba, Ramsey; Redmond

We say: Hansa Rostock 1-2 Aston Villa

Though Aston Villa are a bit behind in terms of fitness, they should still spoil the latest part of Hansa Rostock's anniversary celebrations.

Both squads will get valuable minutes before a long campaign ahead, but the visitors are surely set to come out on top.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea

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