Aston Villa 3-0 Lazio

Aston Villa recorded a comfortable victory against Lazio at Bescot Stadium on Thursday night.

Unai Emery’s team were dominant in their penultimate pre-season friendly and took the lead when Ollie Watkins, who saw an early penalty saved, fired home after 36 minutes.

A sublime finish from John McGinn doubled his side’s lead on 55 minutes and they had further chances to inflict damage on their Champions League opposition.

Youngster Seb Revan created the third goal of the night, with his whipped cross turned in by Lazio defender Mario Gila after 83 minutes.

Villa now head to Spain to take on Valencia on Saturday ahead of the start of their Premier League campaign against Newcastle United the following weekend.

In their first game after the Premier League Summer Series in America, Villa knew they would face a stern test against last season’s Serie A runners-up.

And after a cagey few minutes, Lucas Digne saw a shot deflected over and Calum Chambers headed straight at Ivan Provedel from the resulting corner as the hosts applied pressure.

In the 13^th minute, high pressing from Kamara saw the Frenchman win possession and drive into Lazio’s box before he was hacked down by Romagnoli.

Watkins, who scored from the spot against Walsall in Villa’s pre-season opener, couldn’t repeat the trick and saw his spot kick saved by the feet of Provedel.

Villa refused to let up and struck the crossbar moments later when Youri Tielemans’ cultured shot from then edge of the box smacked the frame of the goal.

Just as the Italian side began to gain a foothold in the game, Villa dealt a decisive blow with a move that went from box-to-box.

Pau Torres fed Tielemans, who turned and advanced before knocking a pass into the channel for Watkins. The England international got to the byline before cutting in on his right foot and drilling a shot into the bottom corner.

A piece of sublime skill from Emiliano Buendia nearly produced a second goal shortly after but his effort drifted wide of the far post as Villa headed in at half-time a goal up.

Emery made seven changes at the break, handing Cameron Archer a chance to lead the line in front of Jaden Philogene, McGinn and Philippe Coutinho.

And ten minutes after the restart, two of the subs combined to great effect when Matty Cash fed McGinn, who moved into the penalty area before driving a placed shot into the far corner to double Villa’s lead.

Provedel did superbly to leap across goal and claw Coutinho’s free-kick away from the top corner soon after as the team in claret and blue kept their intensity high.

The game was 72 minutes old when Robin Olsen was called upon to make his first save of the night, routinely parrying a drive from Pedro to safety.

Villa continued to push forward until the final whistle, bagging a third goal when Revan's cross was deflected past his own 'keeper by Gila.

Aston Villa: Olsen, Chambers, Konsa (Mings 45’), Pau Torres (Cash 45’), Digne (Revan 70’), Kamara (Luiz 45’), Tielemans (Kellyman 70’), Bailey (Philogene 45’), Buendia (Coutinho 45’), Diaby (McGinn 45’), Watkins (Archer 45’).

Unused subs: Martinez, Zych.