Trofeo Naranja – Valencia vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa have confirmed a pre-season fixture against Valencia at the Mestalla. MOMS had reported a couple of months ago that Villa had lined up a big away European away friendly before the season kicked off, and the clash against the Unai Emery’s former La Liga team is the game.
Villa’s other big-name friendly against Lazio seems to have been something of a red herring and a bonus fixture.
The match between Villa and Valencia will be for the Orange Trophy, Trofeo Naranja, the Spanish team’s traditional pre-season trophy that has been hosted by the club since 1959.
Villa will face Valencia, a couple of days after the Lazio clash, on Saturday, August 5 (ko 9pm CEST), in the club’s final match before the Premier League campaign commences a week later.
Valencia is very much the club that Emery began to first build his reputation with between 2008-2012, earning the team top three finishes and Champions League qualification, while also making the later rounds of the Europa League.
While Valencia only finished 16th in La Liga last season, they have been a regular in European competitions in the past few decades, winning the UEFA Cup in 2004 and reaching the Champions League final in both 2000 and 2001.
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