During their pre-season tour in the United States, Aston Villa suffered a 4-1 defeat against Columbus Crew, a match notable for the return of midfielder Emi Buendia from a long-standing knee injury.
Buendia had been out of action since last August due to a knee ligament injury. He made his comeback alongside new signings Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen, who also made their first appearances for Villa, coming onto the pitch in the 63rd minute with the team trailing 4-1.
“The best news today is his return,” Villa manager Unai Emery stated. “Emiliano Buendia is back after a year away.”
“We are pleased to have him back and will now focus on progressively getting the best out of him.”
“The first 30 minutes he played were truly fantastic for both him and the team.”
Cucho Hernandez scored two goals for Columbus, before Cameron Archer found the net for Villa.
Hernandez completed his hat-trick, and Dylan Chambost extended the MLS side’s lead to 4-1.
“Naturally, the result is disappointing, but what matters most to us is not the scoreline today,” Emery added.
“The primary goal is to build a cohesive team, gather insights about the players, and for some, this was their first match—and they played well. Even in defeat, they performed admirably.”
