By Oscar Woods 
Aston Villa put on a clinical display at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, dismantling AS Roma 4-0 in what turned into a pre-season masterclass.
The match on August 6, 2025, saw Unai Emery’s squad fire on all cylinders during the first half before rotating heavily after the break. With goals from Emi Buendia, Jacob Ramsey, Ollie Watkins, and Donyell Malen, Villa sent a strong message ahead of their Premier League opener against Newcastle United.
Table of Contents
First Half Fireworks Set the Tone
The opening 45 minutes belonged entirely to the Villans. Buendia broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a thunderous free kick that left Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar with no chance. Just two minutes later, Ramsey doubled the advantage, slotting calmly under the onrushing keeper after a precise through ball from Youri Tielemans.
Watkins added a third before halftime, collecting a cross from Buendia and finishing with his trademark composure. The striker continued his impressive pre-season form, notching his fourth goal of the summer preparations.
Star Performers and Standout Ratings
Emi Buendia was the undisputed star of the evening, earning a 9 out of 10 rating from Football Insider. His first half performance included the opening goal and an assist for Watkins, demonstrating why he could be central to Villa’s plans for the upcoming campaign.
Emi Martinez, despite not making a single save in his 45 minutes, impressed with his distribution. The Argentina international picked out excellent long range balls to open up Roma regularly throughout the first half, earning an 8/10 rating from Villa News.
Ezri Konsa put in a commanding defensive performance, receiving an 8/10 from Football Insider. The defender put his body on the line to challenge for the ball and will be a key player for Emery next season.
Ollie Watkins and Jacob Ramsey both earned 8/10 ratings for their clinical finishing and intelligent movement throughout the first period.
Second Half Rotation and Concerns
Emery made wholesale changes at the interval, giving opportunities to fringe players and protecting key starters. The rhythm naturally dropped, but substitute Donyell Malen still managed to add gloss to the scoreline with an 85th minute strike from distance, assisted by John McGinn.
Morgan Rogers’ appearance raised concerns when he departed just minutes after coming on with what appeared to be an injury. The 22 year old’s early exit will worry Villa staff as they prepare for the season opener.
Struggles on Display
Not everyone impressed under the Walsall lights. Leon Bailey endured a difficult outing, receiving a harsh 3/10 from Football Insider and 4/10 from Villa News. The winger created zero chances, won no tackles, took no shots, and was hugely off target on the pitch. With exit rumors swirling and new signing Evann Guessand set to arrive from OGC Nice, Bailey’s performance did little to secure his future at Villa Park.
Ian Maatsen also struggled, earning just a 4/10 from Villa News. While he contributed in attack, his defensive positioning left much to be desired against Roma’s counter attacks.
Tactical Observations
Villa operated in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Roma’s 3-4-2-1 setup. The home side dominated possession and carved open the Italian defense repeatedly in the opening period. Roma, who were a week behind in their pre-season preparations, struggled to cope with Villa’s intensity and pressing.
The comprehensive victory marks Villa’s second pre-season win as they build toward their August 16 Premier League curtain raiser. With fixtures against Marseille and Villarreal still to come, Emery will use these remaining matches to finalize his starting eleven and tactical approach.
Complete Player Ratings Breakdown
Starting XI:
- Emi Martinez: 6-8/10
- Lamare Bogarde: 6/10
- Ezri Konsa: 7-8/10
- Tyrone Mings: 5-6/10
- Ian Maatsen: 4-5/10
- Boubacar Kamara: 5-7/10
- Youri Tielemans: 6-7/10
- Leon Bailey: 3-4/10
- Jacob Ramsey: 6-8/10
- Emi Buendia: 7-9/10
- Ollie Watkins: 8/10
Key Substitutes:
- Donyell Malen: 7-8/10
- John McGinn: 5-7/10
- Amadou Onana: 5-7/10
- Pau Torres: 5-7/10
The comprehensive nature of this victory, combined with individual performances from Buendia, Watkins, and Ramsey, suggests Villa are building real momentum. However, questions remain about squad depth in certain positions, particularly if Bailey departs before the transfer window closes.
As Villa prepare to face Newcastle at Villa Park in less than two weeks, this pre-season encounter against Serie A opposition provided valuable minutes and match sharpness. The challenge now is translating these performances into competitive action when the points truly matter.