Aston Villa 2 Real Sociedad 4: Useful Villa workout as Spaniards run out winners

Villa were beaten 4-2 by Copa del Rey winners Real Sociedad in a competitive friendly in Walsall.

Unai Emery’s men were undone by the Spaniards, who built on Saturday’s 2-1 win over Wolves, with a couple of late goals after a flurry of changes from either side.

The scoreline was level 1-1 at the break after impressive youngster George Hemmings gave Villa an early lead. Emery’s side fell behind after the restart but 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo made it three goals in as many friendlies with the equaliser.

Sociedad, who finished 10th in La Liga last term, struck midway through the second half after a flood of changes for both and a youthful Villa were further punished in the dying stages after Emery had used all 21 players listed on the teamsheet.

It was otherwise a useful workout for the head coach against his compatriots from San Sebastian. Villa head to Indonesia on Wednesday for two friendlies as preparations continue for the new Premier League campaign.

Summer signing from Wolves Joao Gomes was busy in his 75 minutes and, importantly, Pau Torres played the second half for his first minutes of pre-season after injury in front of more than 9,000 at Walsall’s Bescot.

There was no place in the squad for high-profile new recruit Alejandro Garnacho, who joined in training on Tuesday, or skipper John McGinn, who returned after his post-World Cup break. Alysson and Tammy Abraham missed out with injury.

Sociedad had a couple of early efforts from successive corners fly off target, one from the head of Tyrone Mings and another volleyed a long way wide.

Villa clicked into gear with Emery barking orders. Ian Maatsen was denied from a tight angle by goalkeeper Alex Remiro after good work from sharp 19-year-old Hemmings.

A couple of last-ditch scrambles denied Madjo and Brad Burrowes moments later but Villa led on the 14th minute.

The eye-catching Hemmings received the ball on the left corner of the box and sent a fine low finish across Remiro and in off the right post.

The Spaniards responded well with Yangel Herrera lively and they found an equaliser eight minutes after falling behind.

Keeper Marco Bizot came to meet a Sociedad pass to the left of his box but was beaten to the punch. A square ball fed Soler, whose first strike was well saved by the keeper but the rebound was tucked in.

Villa tried to spark the friendly from a lull as Matty Cash drilled a low strike from range across goal.

Emery’s men tried to force the issue, but it led to a Sociedad break just before half-time, but Orri Oskarsson was denied by excellent recovery work from defender Modou Cisse.

A lively start to the second period saw Sociedad ahead but for just a handful of minutes.

Barrenetxea’s free-kick from outside the left of the penalty area took a wicked deflection and fell nicely for Oskarsson to convert at the back post.

Undeterred, Emery’s men found an almost immediate leveller through exciting teen frontman Madjo, with a cool finish into the bottom right after a bundling Buendia burst, with Gomes also involved.

Despite the equaliser Villa understandably lacked the zip from the first period and Sociedad were on top as, moments after making eight changes, they made it 3-2.

Substitute Gorka Carrera kept his composure to finish under sub James Wright midway through the half.

Real’s Arsen Zakhayan drew a fine Wright save with a dipping strike from range.

A late fourth, tapped home by Inaki Ruperez after Wright could only parry, was tough on youthful Villa but it was a good evening’s exercise for Emery’s troops.

Villa (4-2-3-1): Bizot (Wright, 45); Cash (Broggio, 68), Mings (c) (Torres, 45), Cisse (Lynch, 45), Maatsen (Borland, 75); Gomes (Rowe, 75), Barkley (Nedeljkovic, 68); Burrowes (Carroll, 68), Buendia (Jimoh-Aloba, 75), Hemmings (Bogarde, 45), Madjo

Attendance: 9,269

Referee: Lewis Smith