Midlands | Villa suffer defeat in Geemany

Hansa Rostock 3–1 Aston Villa

A youthful Aston Villa side slipped to a 3–1 defeat against Hansa Rostock 

Author | Peter Grainger

Stadium | Ostseestadion

This was Villa's second fixture of their 2025–26 pre-season campaign and was played in northern Germany.

Jacob Ramsey’s well-taken goal just before half-time gave Unai Emery’s largely first-team line-up the lead at the interval. However, the Villa manager used the second half to hand minutes to several academy players, offering them a valuable chance to impress ahead of the club’s trip to the United States.

Eight of Villa’s starting XI remained on the pitch for at least an hour, as preparations for the new season gathered pace. But the momentum swung late in the game as Rostock found their rhythm in the final 30 minutes, overturning the deficit to secure a 3–1 victory. 

The match formed part of the German side’s 60th anniversary celebrations, and their spirited second-half performance gave home fans reason to cheer.

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A closer look at what happened

Emery named a similar side to the one beaten by Walsall in midweek, which had marked the beginning of Villa’s pre-season schedule. There were two notable changes: summer signing Marco Bizot made his first appearance in goal, while academy midfielder Aidan Borland was included in the squad.

There was a sense of occasion around the Ostseestadion hours before kick-off, with anticipation growing among home supporters keen to mark a milestone day for Daniel Brinkmann’s team. A near-capacity crowd generated a vibrant atmosphere, urging the hosts on as they looked to make an aggressive start.

Rostock pressed high in the opening stages, forcing Bizot, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres into uncomfortable positions as Villa attempted to build from the back. The visitors weathered the early pressure and took the lead through Ramsey, but the second half proved more testing for Emery’s increasingly youthful side.

Despite the result, there were positives for Villa. The minutes gained by senior players and the experience offered to younger squad members were valuable building blocks. Emery will now turn his attention to the next stage of pre-season, with the squad set to travel to the USA. Their opening match across the Atlantic is scheduled for next Sunday in Louisville, where they face Eintracht Frankfurt.