Aston Villa secured a comfortable 3-1 victory against BG Pathum in Thailand on Tuesday, continuing their successful run in the Far East. Emi Buendía set the tone by opening the scoring in the first half, before Victor Lindelöf doubled the lead with a header from Alysson’s corner. Shortly after coming on at the hour mark, Boubacar Kamara scored Villa’s third goal, sealing the win for the team.
Pathum managed to reduce the deficit late in the match but were unable to mount a comeback as Villa now focus on their final Asian tour fixture against Bayern Munich in Hong Kong.
However, the win was overshadowed by an injury concern for key midfielder John McGinn. Following a foul that caused him to land awkwardly and jolt his left knee, McGinn was visibly in pain and forced to leave the pitch. There remains uncertainty over the extent of his injury and the potential time he may miss.
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Manager Unai Emery appeared anxious as he prevented McGinn from returning to play prematurely. The loss of McGinn would be a significant blow for Villa, already hampered in the attacking department by the absence of new signing Johan Manzambi, who is sidelined for several weeks due to a knee issue. Reports from The Athletic indicate Manzambi will miss the UEFA Super Cup, although hopes remain that his recovery will span weeks rather than months.
On a positive note, Kamara’s return to the matchday squad was marked by an impressive goal just minutes after replacing a teammate. VillaTV captured Kamara expressing his relief and optimism: “It feels good to be back. I’ve waited for this moment. I’ve worked hard during my rehab to come back stronger, so I’m happy to be here. I didn’t expect to score, so it’s good. It’s good for the head. This goal will give me more confidence and I need to keep going.”
Tammy Abraham also made his first appearance since the end of last season, returning following shoulder surgery during the off-season. The striker, who joined Villa from Beşiktaş for £18 million in January, has previously scored vital late goals against Leeds and Sunderland.
Another standout performer this summer has been João Gomes, the £35 million signing from Wolves. Gomes has featured in all five of Villa’s pre-season friendlies and is adjusting well under Emery’s guidance. Against Pathum, Gomes demonstrated his defensive prowess by breaking up play and contributed creatively, generating chances and advancing possession. He frequently drew fouls from opponents, penetrated the box in the first half, and executed a crucial tackle in the 26th minute.
Moreover, Gomes came close to scoring himself with a powerful volley from 20 yards out, narrowly missing the far post despite the goalkeeper being out of position. His tireless work rate and influence on the pitch have been promising signs ahead of the upcoming competitive fixtures.