Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Aston Villa

Aston Villa opened their pre-season trip to the USA with a 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in Louisville.

Ollie Watkins fired the Villans ahead with a well-taken finish in the 12^th minute, converting Donyell Malen’s low cross at Lynn Family Stadium.

Elye Wahi pulled the German side level shortly afterwards, with the Frankfurt forward and Watkins both seeing opportunities to add to their tally in the first half.

Morgan Rogers, introduced at half-time, had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes when he converted to restore Villa’s advantage from another Malen assist.

But it was Eba Bekir Is who levelled with a 25-yard strike eight minutes from time in what was a competitive encounter against a team who finished third in the Bundesliga last term.

Villa, wearing their new 2025/26 home kit for the first time, used a total of 21 players in the heat of Kentucky, with this the club’s first of three pre-season fixtures in the USA, continuing their pre-season preparations against MLS sides St. Louis City and Nashville SC.

Watkins, Malen, Matty Cash, Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendía all made their first appearances of pre-season as they were named in Unai Emery’s starting XI.

Malen was unable to convert from Digne’s chipped ball to the back post after nine minutes.

But Villa did not have to wait long to make a breakthrough, with Malen instrumental in the build-up.

The Netherlands international beat the offside trap and latched on to another delightful ball over the top from Boubacar Kamara, before surging towards goal and squaring for Watkins to apply a low finish.

Frankfurt were proving a threat at the other end, without seriously testing Marco Bizot.

And the Villa ‘keeper almost claimed an assist in the 18^th minute as his long kick beat the German side’s backline and Watkins raced clear, got the better of retreating defender Aurele Amenda, rounded Kevin Trapp but could only put wide from an acute angle.

It proved a key moment and Frankfurt levelled two minutes later, winning possession in a dangerous area, Robin Koch finding Wahi in the box and he slotted beyond Bizot.

Wahi could have doubled his tally just after the half-hour mark but slotted wide when through on goal as it remained all square at the interval.

Rogers, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and Amadou Onana were introduced at the break and it was a lively start to the second period.

Fares Chaibi fired off target when well placed before Michy Batshuayi robbed possession from Konsa at the back but could only slot wide.

And it was Villa who regained the lead in the 49^th minute as Malen sent over an inch-perfect low ball for Rogers to slot home left-footed, with the England international adopting John McGinn’s trademark celebration.

Manager Emery made six changes in the 65^th minute as Joe Gauci, Ian Maatsen, Triston Rowe, Leon Bailey, Samuel Iling Jr and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba were introduced.

Goalscoring openings became few and far between as the second half wore on, and it took a strike from distance to level matters with eight minutes remaining as Bekir Is beat Gauci and found the bottom corner.

Bailey fired off target and Jimoh-Aloba found the side-netting in injury time as Villa pushed for a late winner but it finished all square, with St. Louis City next up on Wednesday as the club’s pre-season trip Stateside continues.

Aston Villa: Bizot (Gauci 65), Cash (Konsa 46), Bogarde, Mings (Torres 46), Digne (Maatsen 65), Kamara (Rowe 65), Tielemans (Onana 46), Malen (Bailey 65), Buendia (Rogers 46), Ramsey (Iling Jr 65), Watkins (Jimoh-Aloba 65).

Subs: Martínez, Ozcan, Patterson, McGinn.