Brighton & Hove Albion will be looking to make it a perfect pre-season when they round off their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign with a clash against Villarreal on Saturday afternoon.
The Seagulls have been victorious in each of their three friendlies this summer, while Villarreal have also played three times during pre-season, boasting a record of one win, one draw and one defeat.
Match preview
Brighton finished last season in 11th position in the Premier League table, which was a disappointment considering that they were sixth in 2022-23, and the club have now entered a new era under the management of German head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
The Seagulls have played three friendlies this summer, beating Kashima Antlers 5-1 before recording a 4-2 success over Tokyo Verde, and they then posted a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers last weekend.
Brighton will conclude their preparations for the new season on Saturday before opening their 2024-25 Premier League campaign away to Everton on August 17.
The Seagulls have made five signings this summer, with Yankuba Minteh proving to be the biggest of those from Newcastle United, while Pascal Gross has been their standout departure, with the experienced midfielder making the move to Borussia Dortmund.
Villarreal, meanwhile, will also conclude their pre-season on Saturday, with the Yellow Submarine opening their 2024-25 La Liga campaign against Atletico Madrid on August 19.
Marcelino's side started their preparations for the new season with a 3-1 success over Sion on July 24, and they have since lost 3-1 to Saint-Etienne and drawn 0-0 with Nottingham Forest.
Villarreal finished eighth in La Liga last season, so they will not play any European football in the coming campaign, which is a huge disappointment considering their recent history in Europe.
The Yellow Submarine have made five signings this summer, with Willy Kambwala and Diego Conde arriving for transfer fees, while Nicolas Pepe, Sergi Cardona and Pape Gueye have joined on free transfers.
El Submarino Amarillo will certainly be aiming to push towards the top six next term, but they have lost two key players this summer in the shape of Alexander Sorloth and Filip Jorgensen.
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Team News
Brighton head coach Hurzeler could name a similar XI to the one that took to the field for the first whistle against QPR last time out, with Danny Welbeck again expected to lead the line.
Minteh is also expected to be in the side, while there could be a start for James Milner, who is preparing to enter yet another Premier League campaign at the age of 38.
There will be changes throughout the contest, with the team's attention firmly on next weekend's Premier League opener, but there could be another start for 20-year-old midfielder Yasin Ayari.
As for Villarreal, Sorloth's departure has left a big hole in the final third of the field, but it will be fascinating to see how ex-Arsenal attacker Pepe performs for the club next season.
Pepe could feature in a front three with Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach on Saturday, while Dani Parejo, Santi Comesana and Ramon Terrats may operate as the midfield three.
Adria Alti is expected to start at left-back, but there should be an opportunity at some stage of the contest for 18-year-old defender Daniel Budesca to make an impression.
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Steele; Veltman, Van Hecke, Webster, Hinshelwood; Milner, Ayari, Baleba; Mitoma, Welbeck, Minteh
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Conde; Foyth, Albiol, Bailly, Alti; Comesana, Parejo, Terrats; Pepe, G Moreno, Akhomach
We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Villarreal
Villarreal held Forest to a goalless draw last time out, and we can see another stalemate here. Brighton will be bidding to make it a perfect pre-season in terms of results, but the Seagulls might ultimately be forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
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