Aston Villa are expected to be without Brian Madjo and João Gomes when they face Borussia Mönchengladbach in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday.
On Friday, talkSPORT, citing The Athletic, reported that both players are likely to miss the game because of injuries. That gives Unai Emery two more enforced selection changes ahead of a match that comes only eight days before Villa open their Premier League campaign against Brighton.
Final pre-season test at Borussia-Park
Villa travel to Borussia-Park for a 2.30pm BST kick-off, with the friendly serving as the last chance to fine-tune the group before the season begins. Earlier this summer, the club had already confirmed that Borussia Mönchengladbach would be their final pre-season opponent, so the fixture has long been viewed as an important checkpoint for Emery and his staff.
The absence of Madjo and Gomes adds to a growing list of availability concerns, with Amadou Onana already sidelined by a serious knee injury suffered at the World Cup. That means Villa will again have to manage their options carefully as they balance match rhythm with injury protection.
What it means for Villa
Three days before this game, Villa lost 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, so Saturday's match also offers a quick chance to reset after a competitive setback. With the Premier League opener now just over a week away, the main focus will be on who is available, how Emery rotates, and whether the squad can come through the final friendly without any further issues.
For Villa, the bigger picture is simple: get through Borussia Mönchengladbach, assess the depth chart, and head into the Brighton opener with as few unanswered questions as possible.
