Aston Villa friendly against Bielefeld called off
Villa’s pre-season friendly against Arminia Bielefeld has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Steve Bruce’s men were poised to meet the German Second Division club at Gutersloh’s Heidewaldstadion on Tuesday evening but the match has been called off after a referee deemed the pitch unplayable.
That has meant an early end to the club’s pre-season trip to Germany, with the team now returning to the UK.
The game against Bielefeld was itself arranged at short notice following the cancellation of a planned fixture with Vitesse Arnhem, which had originally been scheduled for Tuesday evening.
That game had been due to take place at Stimberg Stadium in Erkenschwick but was called off late last week at the request of the German FA.
Villa did make it on to the field for the Cup of Traditions tournament at MSV Duisburg on Sunday, where they won the trophy thanks to wins over the hosts and Hertha Berlin.
Bruce’s men face their final pre-season fixture this Saturday when they take on Watford at Villa Park (kick-off 3pm). The fixture has been organised as a memorial to Graham Taylor who managed both clubs.
