Aston Villa concluded their pre-season tour of the Far East with a 2-1 defeat to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in Hong Kong. This followed earlier victories against Indonesia All Stars and BG Pathum United, showcasing an overall positive pre-season build-up.
Bayern took the lead in the first half when Kim Min-jae headed in a free-kick delivered by Tom Bischof. Luis Diaz then doubled the German side’s advantage after the break. However, Villa fought back late on with Joao Gomes scoring a fine goal from outside the box, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Tammy Abraham also came close to levelling for Villa but missed a header in the 85th minute.
Signed from Wolves for £35 million, Joao Gomes has been one of Villa’s standout performers this pre-season. His display against Bayern was arguably his best yet, as he demonstrated composure on the ball and an eye for goal. Although Bayern were missing several key players, they fielded established first-team performers such as midfielders Aleksandar Pavlović and Tom Bischof, and defender Josip Stanišić, adding to the quality of the opposition.
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Gomes initially operated slightly deeper than his midfield partner Boubacar Kamara but pushed further forward after Lamare Bogarde’s introduction in the second half. Villa fans can expect Gomes and Kamara to form a combative midfield duo next season. While they may lack the exceptional passing range of the departed Youri Tielemans, both players are aggressive in winning possession and possess ample skill on the ball.
Throughout the games against BG Pathum and Bayern, Gomes consistently drove Villa forward, weaving past opponents with determination. His late goal against Bayern, a precise finish past Manuel Neuer from the edge of the area, highlighted his goal threat.
Another strength Gomes brings is his durability; he has rarely missed matches for Wolves, a valuable trait for Villa considering Kamara’s history of injuries and the long-term absence of Amadou Onana, sidelined with an ACL injury.
In contrast, Evann Guessand has struggled to impress across all three pre-season fixtures in the Far East. The Ivory Coast international started as a striker in matches against Indonesia All Stars and BG Pathum United but appeared short of confidence and failed to make a strong impact.
His difficulties were even more apparent against Bayern, where he played in his preferred role behind striker Brian Madjo but contributed only minimally. Guessand’s touch was notably loose in the first half, and he found it challenging to operate effectively in tight spaces against Bayern’s midfielders.
A missed opportunity in the second half encapsulated his struggles. Emi Buendia delivered an inviting free-kick into the box, but rather than heading the ball, Guessand chose to volley it and failed to make clean contact from close range.
Guessand joined Villa from Nice last summer in a deal potentially worth up to £30 million. After a difficult first half of the season, he spent the remainder on loan at Crystal Palace. However, Palace decided against making the loan move permanent this summer, opting to pursue other targets under their new manager.
With two further pre-season matches remaining before the Premier League campaign kicks off, Guessand still has opportunities to prove his value to Unai Emery’s squad. Nonetheless, he faces a significant challenge to earn a regular place given his current form.