Aston Villa continue their build-up to a season that will include a return to the Champions League when they face Real Sociedad in a pre-season friendly in Walsall on Tuesday, with both sides coming into the match after encouraging summers and notable attacking form.
The match, scheduled for Tuesday 28 July 2026 at 18:30 GMT at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in Walsall, will be the first ever meeting between the two clubs. It is the third pre-season outing for both teams and is attracting attention not just for the football on show but also for the betting markets around it.
Villa building on Europa League triumph
Aston Villa arrive off the back of an outstanding 2025-26 campaign, in which they finished fourth in the Premier League and lifted the Europa League, securing their place in this season’s Champions League. The club’s hierarchy is aiming not only to consolidate their top-four status domestically, but also to advance to the knockout phase in Europe’s premier club competition.
Continuity is central to that plan. Most of Unai Emery’s key players remain at the club despite strong interest from elsewhere and extended summer breaks after international duty. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, a recent World Cup finalist, is still in place, as are England defender Ezri Konsa – who impressed at the World Cup – striker Ollie Watkins and captain John McGinn.
Villa have also been boosted by productive loan spells for Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand, both now back in the squad and considered positive additions for the new season.
There have, however, been three significant departures across the pitch. Midfielder Youri Tielemans has joined Manchester United, forward Morgan Rogers has moved to Chelsea and left-back Lucas Digne has signed for Paris SG, leaving Emery with key roles to reshuffle before competitive action resumes.
Mixed pre-season, strong scoring run
On the pitch this summer, Villa opened their preparations with a 5-0 victory over Walsall before losing 2-1 to FC Porto in a high-profile fixture at Estadio do Dragao on Saturday. Despite that defeat, Villa’s attack has been consistent: they have scored in each of their last eight matches in all competitions.
A recurring pattern has emerged defensively. In their last two fixtures in which they conceded – the final Premier League game of last season against Manchester City and the weekend defeat by Porto – they allowed the opening goal on both occasions.
Another trend has caught the eye of analysts: across their last five matches, Villa have alternated between keeping a clean sheet and conceding. If that sequence were to continue, they would be due a shut-out against Real Sociedad – although that will be sternly tested by the Spaniards’ recent form in front of goal.
Real Sociedad riding wave of cup success
Real Sociedad travel to England in positive mood after winning the Copa del Rey in April and enjoying an unbeaten start to pre-season. They beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on Saturday and have scored in each of their last six matches, registering 10 goals in that period.
Their momentum is also underpinned by the presence in the squad of forward Mikel Oyarzabal, described as their “serial scorer” and now a world champion with Spain, although he will be absent for this game as he remains on holiday following the tournament. The Basque club, coached by Pellegrino Matarazzo, are intent on extending their resurgence into the new campaign and are keen to keep hold of their leading centre-forward.
So far, their transfer window has been quiet, focused mainly on players returning from loan rather than major new signings, reflecting a preference for stability.
Defence remains Sociedad’s weak spot
Despite finishing 10th in La Liga last season, Real Sociedad’s defensive record was a major concern. They ended the campaign with the joint-worst defence in the division, an issue that continues to be viewed as the main weakness of the “Erreala”.
Recent match patterns underline their openness. In each of their last five games, the first goal – whether for or against them – has been scored within the opening 30 minutes. Both teams have found the net in each of their last six fixtures, reinforcing the perception that their matches tend to be open and high in chances at both ends.
Oskarsson steps up in Oyarzabal’s absence
With Oyarzabal still on a post-World Cup break, the attacking burden has largely been carried by Orri Oskarsson. The 21-year-old Icelandic centre-forward has scored in each of Real Sociedad’s last four matches and is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Icelandic football, with comparisons in his homeland to former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Oskarsson is expected to be Real Sociedad’s main attacking threat against Villa as he looks to strengthen his claim for a regular starting role amid competition from other forwards in Matarazzo’s squad.
Betting outlook and expert view
For this fixture, betting analyst Nasser Eddy, a consultant for NCI Sport and host of the European Champions League coverage on Nostalgie radio, has provided his view on the markets around the game.
He notes that both Aston Villa and Real Sociedad have been scoring and conceding regularly in recent matches, while the Spanish side remain unbeaten in pre-season. On that basis, he suggests a draw as a “sensible” outcome, with odds of 3.6 available for the stalemate.
Eddy also highlights the price of 1.61 for both teams to score, reflecting their respective trends in front of goal. A combined bet on a score draw is quoted at 4.33. He points out that Real Sociedad are rated at 2.17 to score in the first half, in line with their recent habit of early goals, and that Oskarsson is seen as a strong candidate to find the net again and extend his scoring run to a fifth consecutive match.
All odds quoted are subject to change.
