Aston Villa suffered a 4-2 defeat against Real Sociedad at the Bescot Stadium in their latest pre-season friendly. The match was marked by standout performances from youngsters Brian Madjo and George Hemmings, a bizarre second-half start with 10 men, and animated touchline reactions from manager Unai Emery.
Emery's Praise for Hemmings and the 10-Man Chaos
Unai Emery was heard shouting "Fantastic, George. Fantastic" repeatedly during the first half, acknowledging the energetic display of teenager George Hemmings. Hemmings rewarded his manager's faith by scoring a brilliant goal, curling the ball into the far corner off the post past Alex Remiro.
However, at half-time, substitute Luka Lynch was due to replace Hemmings. As the second half kicked off, Lynch was still putting on his shin pads beside Emery, causing confusion. The referee presumed Lynch had already entered the field, leaving Villa to play the opening two minutes with only 10 men before Lynch was eventually allowed to come on.
Brian Madjo Continues to Impress
Seventeen-year-old Brian Madjo once again showcased his physical prowess, bullying Sociedad's senior defenders throughout the night. He scored his third goal in two pre-season starts, demonstrating his natural finishing ability. Two Sociedad defenders were booked in their attempts to stop him, underlining his threat.
Madjo's physical profile is already suited to the Premier League, but patience is required as FIFA has blocked his registration due to his age. Aston Villa have taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge this decision.
Gomes and Cisse Shine
New signing João Gomes impressed in midfield alongside Ross Barkley, covering ground effectively and making a crucial block in the 20th minute. He also snuffed out a dangerous Sociedad attack in the right channel just before half-hour mark.
Defender Modou Cisse was singled out by Emery for criticism when he opted not to play out from the back, but he responded with a superb last-man tackle to deny Orri Óskarsson in a one-on-one situation. Cisse has been one of Villa's standout pre-season performers, following a similar path to Lamare Bogarde.
Next Steps for Villa
Villa now head to the Far East for matches against Indonesia All Stars, BG Pathum United in Thailand, and Bayern Munich in Hong Kong. They then face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup in a fortnight. The young prospects like Madjo, Hemmings, and Cisse will hope to continue their impressive form on tour.
