Getting to Know Leagues Cup Showcase Opponent: Aston Villa

On July 27, the Columbus Crew will host English Premier League side Aston Villa FC as part of the Black & Gold’s Leagues Cup Showcase at Lower.com Field.

Here’s more background information on the Leagues Cup Showcase and the club that’s coming to Columbus from across the pond.

About the Leagues Cup Showcase

Three days after the 2024 MLS All-Star Game, presented by Target, comes to Lower.com Field on July 24, the Crew will be hosting a Premier League club in a first-ever Leagues Cup Showcase match.

The one-time event is special and is possible because the Columbus Crew directly qualified for the knockout stages of the 2024 Leagues Cup after winning MLS Cup in 2023. Because there would be a gap between the club’s last MLS match on July 20 and the first knockout match, the Black & Gold have the chance to face a club that’ll be competing in UEFA Champions League later this year.

Not only will this be a chance to see one of the best English clubs up close against the reigning league champs, but it’s also an opportunity for two historic clubs to meet for the first time.

About Aston Villa

Just as the Crew were a founding member of MLS, Villa was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992. There are a few years between when the clubs were established, though, as the English club was established in 1874.

Hailing from Birmingham, the Second City, this year marks the 150th anniversary for the side that’s called Villa Park home since 1897.

Villa has been an English powerhouse since the club was established, winning seven First Division titles as well as seven FA Cups – the equivalent of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Villas has also won the European Cup and the European Super Cup, securing continental bragging rights.

More recently, though, the team in claret and sky blue has seen a resurgence to its former glory days, as Aston Villa qualified for Champions League after finishing fourth in the Premier League this past season. The competition means more massive matches, which is why it makes sense for Villa to try its luck against the MLS champs.

Aston Villa Players to Watch

Emiliano Martínez

Well, having a World Cup-winning goalkeeper is certainly a flex. Martínez is usually the No. 1 between the pipes for Villa in Premier League matches, but his status at the Leagues Cup Showcase is TBD with the goalkeeper competing in the Copa América final with Argentina.

Ollie Watkins

Watkins played all but one Premier league match for Villa last season and led the club with 19 goals and 13 assists. Like Martínez, Watkins is playing in a continental tournament, as he’s representing England at UEFA Euro 2024, in which he just scored the winning goal to secure England's passage to the final.

Leon Bailey

Bailey is a 26-year-old Jamaican attacking player who also guided Villa to a top four finish in 2023-24. In 35 league appearances, he produced 10 goals and supplied nine assists. Bailey, who previously played for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, has earned 30 caps for the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica.

Ian Maatsen

Maatsen might not be a household name, but he will be soon. Earlier this summer, Aston Villa signed the Dutch left back from Borussia Dortmund for a massive fee: approx. $48 million. Just 22 years old, he was representing The Netherlands at Euro 2024 and will be a matchday regular for Villa across Premier League and Champions League matches.

Meet Aston Villa’s Coach

This summer marks the second time Unai Emery will be leading Villa to start a season. The former Arsenal manager joined Villa in October 2022 and helped his team finish seventh in the Premier League standings. Of course, the group improved and finished fourth in 2023-24. In addition to coaching Villa and Arsenal, the Spaniard has also coached Villareal, Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla, among other teams.

How to Secure a Seat to the Leagues Cup Showcase

Tickets are still available for the Crew-Aston Villa match, but act fast to see two historic clubs meet for the first time.