Aston Villa suffered a second successive pre-season defeat in the early hours of Thursday morning, beaten 2-0 by German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in a one-sided affair in New Jersey. Unai Emery’s men didn’t register a single shot on target at Red Bull Arena as they struggled to surpass a resilient Leipzig back line, suffering another confidence knock after the 4-1 thrashing from Columbus Crew.
Villa zipped it around early doors and had a couple of promising openings down the right through Leon Bailey, but their joy was ended prematurely as Leipzig broke the deadlock in the 17th minute. Amadou Haidara pounced on a mistake from Villa passing out from the back and fed Andre Silva for an open goal. Robin Olsen’s pass lacked oomph and then Ross Barkley wasn’t quick enough to react to the press as he was dispossessed easily on the edge of his own area. Olsen then went off through an injury sustained when rushing out to Haidara, rubbing salt in the wound.
Leipzig gained confidence from their opener, passing the ball with a swagger. The Bundesliga side deservedly doubled their advantage just before half-time, through Lois Openda. The Belgium international saw an audacious flick saved at close range by Oliwier Zych following a low cross, but the efforts of Villa’s young goalkeeper were in vain as Openda netted on the rebound.
To make matters worse, Diego Carlos was sent off for a second yellow card in the aftermath of Leipzig’s second goal, showing a total lack of maturity despite his experience. Carlos engaged in a pushing match with Openda and was punished for a second time, not learning from a similar incident when he was first booked earlier on in a clash with the same player.
Villa struggled to craft anything of note from their own possession in the first period, met by a brick wall of Leipzig defenders whenever venturing into the final third. Hardly any shots were managed, with Barkley’s deflected 20-yard effort and a low, saved cross from Lucas Digne truly the closest sights of goal.
Unai Emery turned to the bench at the break, swapping out Digne, Barkley, Samuel Iling Junior and Bailey for Ian Maatsen, Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Jaden Philogene. Emery then made the rest of his changes just after the hour mark but his reinforcements were unable to make the desired impact.
The game went rather stale, with very little action in either box and most possession side-to-side in the central areas. Leizpig looked the more likely team to score as Eljif Elmas and Benjamin Sesko had efforts drag wide of the left post, but the clash was effectively over as soon as Carlos saw red. Here are our Villa player ratings.
5. Lucas Digne - 6 (off at HT)
Put in one dangerous low cross but otherwise hardly involved in attacks throughout the first half. Nothing to note defensively. | Getty Images
6. Amadou Onana - 7 (off 61’)
Sat deepest of the midfield but progressed attacks with some powerful dribbles forward. Displayed a superb passing range in the opening 20 minutes or so but did give away one cynical foul on Kevin Kampl. | Getty Images
7. Ross Barkley - 5 (off at HT)
At fault for Silva’s opener as he was tackled with ease on the edge of his own box. Otherwise did ok at breaking up the play, just ahead of Onana laterally in a double pivot. | Getty Images
8. John McGinn - 6 (off 61’)
Displayed two examples of excellent tracking back and retrieving possession in the first 45. Enjoyed more time and space on the ball in the second period but not able to create any clear-cut chances. | Getty Images