Aston Villa's final pre-season friendly ended in a 2-1 defeat at Villa Park on Saturday as Real Sociedad struck twice early in the second half to cancel out Ollie Watkins' first-half opener. The match provided a stern test for Unai Emery's side ahead of the new Premier League campaign, with the visitors showing clinical finishing after the break.
First Half: Villa Take Control
Villa dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Watkins scoring in the 23rd minute after a brilliant through ball from John McGinn. The England international slotted calmly past Sociedad goalkeeper Alex Remiro to give the hosts a deserved lead. Villa had further chances through Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans, but Remiro was equal to their efforts.
Real Sociedad struggled to create clear opportunities in the first half, with Villa's high press forcing errors. Emery's men registered 65% possession in the opening period and had five shots on target compared to the visitors' two.
Second Half: Sociedad's Comeback
The Spanish side emerged with renewed purpose after the interval, equalising just three minutes into the second half. Mikel Oyarzabal capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa to slot home from close range. The goal shifted momentum, and Sociedad took the lead in the 52nd minute when Brais Méndez fired a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner from 20 yards.
Villa pushed for an equaliser but lacked the cutting edge of the first half. Watkins had a goal ruled out for offside in the 68th minute, and substitute Jhon Durán saw a header saved by Remiro late on. Sociedad nearly added a third on the counter-attack, but Emiliano Martínez made a fine save to deny Takefusa Kubo.
Post-Match Reaction
Unai Emery was pleased with parts of the performance but acknowledged the need for improvement. 'We played well in the first half, but we made mistakes in key moments after the break. Pre-season is about learning, and we must be sharper defensively,' Emery said.
Emery also praised the fitness levels of his squad, noting that the friendly was a valuable test against a top La Liga side. The match saw the return of Tyrone Mings from injury, playing his first 45 minutes since April.
Key Statistics
Aston Villa finished with 52% possession overall, but Sociedad were more efficient with their chances, converting two of their four shots on target. Villa had 10 shots on goal compared to Sociedad's seven, but only three were on target in the second half. The defeat was Villa's first of pre-season after wins over Walsall and a draw with RB Leipzig.
The result provides context for Villa's readiness for the upcoming Premier League season, with their opening fixture against West Ham United next weekend. Emery emphasised that the team's fitness is on track and that the squad is almost at full strength.
