Sevilla have all but agreed a top-level friendly for the 15th edition of the Antonio Puerta Trophy, according to Zona Mixta, and Aston Villa look set to be the opponent. The match will be played on Friday, October 2 at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, during the international window, just as happened in editions III, VI and VIII of the tournament.
A break with a home game
After matchday seven of LaLiga, the league will pause for three weeks, and the club has used this friendly to help both squads keep their competitive rhythm during that spell. The Sanchez-Pizjuan will already have seen action before that, on Tuesday, September 29, when Spain and Croatia meet in the Nations League on the same pitch.
Emery's return to the Pizjuan
The fixture carries an emotional edge on the touchline too. MARCA has stated that "Aston Villa will almost certainly be the opponent for the side managed by Luis Garcia Plaza", which would mean Unai Emery returning to the stadium where he won three consecutive Europa League titles with Sevilla between 2013 and 2016. The last time Emery managed the club from the touchline was on December 4, 2021, in a game against Villarreal that finished 1-0 for the home side. That friendly against Aston Villa will therefore mark his first return to the Pizjuan since that spell.
Sevilla in good form
Garcia Plaza's side head into the break in good shape. Sevilla sit third in LaLiga on 10 points after five games, just two points behind leaders Barcelona, with a record of three wins, one draw and one defeat. The most recent win came on September 11 with a 1-0 victory over Valencia, Juan Antonio Iglesias Sanchez scoring in the 81st minute after an assist from Giorgi Kochorashvili. Before that, Sevilla had drawn 1-1 away at Espanyol, with L. Stassin scoring in the 85th minute.
With Arouna Sangante and Ruben Vargas still sidelined and the club yet to give a return date, this season's squad list is available on the squad page, showing who is covering those absences. Before the October friendly, Sevilla have a league trip to face Deportivo La Coruna, sixth in the table, on September 16, a match already listed on the fixtures page, while the full table can be checked on the standings page.
