Brighton: Defensive stability, but goals remain hard to find

Fabian Hürzeler’s side enjoyed a productive preseason, picking up wins against Strasbourg (4-3), Roma (3-0), and Bologna (1-0). However, their first competitive fixture exposed a familiar problem in attack. Brighton dominated their Conference League qualifier against Tromsø but could only manage a 0-0 draw.

Their attacking options have also been weakened by several absences. Kaoru Mitoma, Stefanos Tzimas, Yankuba Minteh, and Evan Ferguson were unavailable this week, while Matt O’Riley remains a doubt. On the positive side, Brighton’s defensive structure has looked increasingly reliable, with opponents struggling to create clear-cut opportunities.

Aston Villa: Major departures leave Emery with work to do

Villa’s preseason has been far less encouraging. Unai Emery’s team suffered defeats to Porto, Real Sociedad, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Mönchengladbach before losing 1-2 to PSG in the UEFA Super Cup.

The squad has also undergone significant changes. Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Ezri Konsa have all left, while injuries have further complicated Emery’s plans. Joan Manzambi, João Gomes, and Amadou Onana are unavailable, with Tammy Abraham also facing fitness concerns.

Match facts and head-to-head stats

Brighton opened their competitive campaign with a 0-0 draw against Tromsø in Conference League qualifying.

Aston Villa have lost just once in their last 10 meetings with Brighton.

Seven of the last nine encounters between the sides have produced at least three goals.

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