Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa completed their pre-season schedule as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.

The Villans stepped up their match fitness in anticipation of the start of the Premier League next weekend, with a total of 20 players used and more minutes under the belt.

Dortmund, last season’s Champions League finalists, claimed the spoils thanks to two goals in three first-half minutes, Emre Can’s penalty and Julian Brandt’s close-range finish settling matters.

Unai Emery’s side came close through Jacob Ramsey’s header in first-half injury time, while substitute Cameron Archer pulled wide a clear-cut opening after the break.

Yet it was the Bundesliga title challengers, in front of 81,365 in the Germany summer sun, who triumphed.

Villa, having wrapped up their 2024/25 preparations, open their league campaign with a trip to West Ham United next Saturday.  

Emi Martínez and Ezri Konsa made their first appearances of pre-season following their international exploits earlier this summer, although Ollie Watkins and Jhon Durán were not involved in the matchday 24.

John McGinn captained Villa while Ian Maatsen, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Dortmund, was named among the substitutes.

A vibrant atmosphere greeted the two sides inside a packed stadium that started filling up hours before kick-off, with thousands of travelling Villa fans in fine voice.

Jamie Gittens sent the first chance off target in the 15^th minute but clear-cut openings were at a premium in the first half an hour.

That all changed, though, as Dortmund scored twice in a matter of minutes.

Karim Adeyemi went down in the area under a challenge from Konsa and, despite appeals for offside in the build-up, captain Can slotted home the subsequent spot-kick.

And Brandt made it 2-0 almost immediately as he capitalised on defensive hesitancy in the box to lift the ball over Martínez from close range.

McGinn nodded off target in response while Ramsey’s header was superbly kept out by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel as the hosts led at the break.

Konsa made an excellent block to thwart Pascal Groß early in the second half, before Ramsey again forced Kobel into action at the other end.

Morgan Rogers was inches away from connecting with Lucas Digne’s ball into the danger zone.

Manager Emery introduced Maatsen, Joe Gauci, Lamare Bogarde, Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey just after the hour mark.

Archer then entered the fray 10 minutes later and was immediately handed a golden opportunity to reduce the arrears, but he could only drag his effort wide after Bailey had pounced on a defensive error from Dortmund.

Álex Moreno, Enzo Barrenechea and Emi Buendía were next to be introduced for the visitors.

Archer, racing clear, almost connected with a throughball late on before Donyell Malen fired off target for Dortmund when well placed in the closing stages.

Aston Villa: Martínez (Gauci 62), Nedeljković, Konsa (Bogarde 62), Torres, Digne (Maatsen 62), Onana (Barkley 62), Tielemans (Barrenechea 79), McGinn (Archer 71), Ramsey (Bailey 62), Philogene (Moreno 79), Rogers (Buendía 79).

Subs: Wright, Swinkels, Iling Jr, Dendoncker.