Villa head to Seville for Antonio Puerta Trophy friendly

Aston Villa will use the international break to play a friendly against Sevilla in Spain on Friday, competing for the Antonio Puerta Trophy at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

The match kicks off at 7.30pm UK time on Friday 2 October. With no Premier League games until 10 October because of international fixtures, the trip gives Unai Emery a chance to keep players who have not been called up by their countries sharp.

A trophy with meaning

The Antonio Puerta Trophy is played for each year in memory of the Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta, who collapsed on the pitch during a match against Getafe in August 2007 and died three days later from heart problems. He was 22. A product of Sevilla's youth academy, he had scored the goal that sent the club to the UEFA Cup final in 2006, which they won.

His death led to greater awareness of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, and many clubs have since improved heart screening and placed defibrillators at grounds.

Why friendlies during the break?

International breaks can leave Premier League clubs with only part of their squad at the training ground. Friendlies give players who are not on international duty valuable match time, allow those returning from injury to build fitness and give younger players a chance to impress the manager.

Villa's season so far

Villa head into the break after a 3-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur on 19 September, their first Premier League victory of the season after a difficult start. They are in the Champions League this season after winning the Europa League last season, and they beat Club Brugge 3-2 in their opening league phase match, when John McGinn became the club's all-time top scorer in European competitions.

They also beat Coventry City 3-1 away in the Carabao Cup, with Tammy Abraham scoring twice.

About Sevilla

Sevilla are one of Spain's most successful clubs in European competition, having won the UEFA Cup and Europa League a record seven times. They play their home games at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium in the Andalusian capital, one of the most atmospheric grounds in Spain.

What comes next

After the friendly, Villa return to Premier League action at home to Brentford on Saturday 10 October, before facing Fenerbahce in the Champions League on 14 October.

Villa on international duty

Several Villa players are likely to be away with their national teams during the break. Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers were all part of Thomas Tuchel's England squad at this summer's World Cup.

Watching

Friendlies are often shown on clubs' own streaming services, and fans should check the club's website for details.

Women's team in action

Aston Villa Women are back in Women's Super League action at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, as they look for their first league win of the season.

Links between the clubs

Unai Emery knows Sevilla well. He managed the club from 2013 to 2016 and led them to three successive Europa League titles, which made him a hugely popular figure in the city. Returning to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan with Villa gives the occasion extra significance for the manager and for Sevilla's supporters, who still remember that successful era fondly.