Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Leeds United and Brighton and Hove Albion were among those playing pre-season friendlies at the weekend.
We’ve rounded up a few key Fantasy Premier League (FPL) talking points from each of these matches, with more reports to view below:
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FULHAM 3-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
- Goals: Wilson x2, Pereira | Wood
- Assists: Bassey, Sessegnon, Lukic | Williams
Fulham beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 in Portugal, where Harry Wilson (£5.5m) proved to be the difference maker for Marco Silva’s side.
The Welsh player netted an impressive brace, including a direct free-kick, with Andreas Pereira (£5.5m) also on the scoresheet.
“Two great goals from Harry Wilson. The first one [was] a top ball from Calvin [Bassey], a great move from him [Wilson] and top finishing. It was a good, direct free-kick from him, too. Our control of the game was very good [in the] first half. In the second half, we controlled well in different circumstances. We scored a very good goal, too, a very good moment from us, with a good move on the right-hand side and a great movement from Andreas [Pereira] as well.” – Marco Silva
As for Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo included several academy players in the first half, while Jair Cunha (£4.5m) made his first appearance as well.
However, the Tricky Trees found themselves trailing 2-0 at half time, prompting Nuno to use a much more experienced XI in the second half.
Chris Wood (£7.5m) later pulled one back, heading in a cross from Neco Williams (£5.0m), but ultimately, it turned out to be merely a consolation goal.
Elsewhere, there was a first appearance of pre-season for Elliot Anderson (£5.5m), fresh from his Euros triumph with England U21s. He tested the ‘keeper with an effort from outside the box, while fellow midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White (£7.5m) came close to getting on the scoresheet with a couple of shots of his own.
Fulham XI: Leno; Tete (Castagne 46), Andersen (Diop 46), Bassey (Cuenca 46), Sessegnon (Esenga 69); Berge (Reed 46), Cairney (Lukic 46); Wilson (Iwobi 46), King (Pereira 46), Smith Rowe (Adama 46); Muniz (Loupalo-Bi (69)
Nottingham Forest first-half XI: Bott; Sinclair, Jair Cunha, Morato, Carmo, Powell; Yates, Whitehall, Berry; Awoniyi, Jota
Nottingham Forest second-half XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Jesus, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 2-2 ASTON VILLA
- Goals: Watkins, Rogers
- Assists: Malen x2
In their first run-outs of pre-season, Ollie Watkins (£9.0m) and Morgan Rogers (£7.0m) both scored for Aston Villa.
Watkins handed Unai Emery’s team the lead in the 12th minute, and he nearly added a second, having raced onto goalkeeper Marco Bizot’s (£4.5m) long kick, only to put it wide from a narrow angle.
Rogers, meanwhile, scored just minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute, when he converted from Donyell Malen’s (£5.5m) cross, his second assist of the night.
Malen, who played on the right, certainly made a positive impression here, suggesting he could play a more prominent role in 2025/26, particularly if Villa don’t replace Marcus Rashford or Marco Asensio in the transfer market.
“When I came it was always going to be a bit different. A few things were difficult but I think I handled it quite well. I just tried to help the team and hopefully this season I can do the same and play more. It’s about getting a rhythm and a flow now, being on the pitch to help the team. I want to get involved in goals and assists, and also get results.” – Donyell Malen
Andres Garcia (£4.0m) and Ross Barkley (£5.0m) both missed out as they continue to nurse injuries back in Birmingham.
John McGinn (£5.5m) also remained on the bench after suffering from “… a bit of pain, but it is nothing important”, according to Emery.
“We’re happy here and we’re working in our pre-season, building the team, trying to keep our same structure we had the last year tactically and improving things, adapting as everything is changing so quickly in football. Here we played 90 minutes against a team who will play in the Champions League this year. They’re a good team, good players and it was a good test for us.” – Unai Emery
Aston Villa XI: Bizot (Gauci 65); Cash (Konsa 46), Bogarde, Mings (Pau 46), Digne (Maatsen 65); Kamara (Rowe 65), Tielemans (Onana 46); Malen (Bailey 65), Buendia (Rogers 46), Ramsey (Iling Jr 65); Watkins (Jimoh-Aloba 65)
SC PADERBORN 2-3 LEEDS UNITED
- Goals: Piroe, Gnonto, Nmecha
- Assists: Stach, Struijk
Leeds recorded a 3-2 win over SC Paderborn in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday afternoon.
The match saw Anton Stach (£5.0m) make his debut, with the towering central midfielder assisting Joe Piroe (£5.5m) for the opener.
Lining up in a 4-3-3 formation, Wilfried Gnonto (£5.5m) and Lukas Nmecha (£5.0m) also got on the scoresheet, but gaps were far too easily exploited by the opposition.
New goalkeeper Lucas Perri (£4.5m) sat on the bench to watch his new side here, with the new arrival expected to be Leeds’ number one in 2025/26.
“We are all happy that we have Lucas with us. We are all happy that the deal is right now over the line and we can’t wait for him to start with us soon. We have a goalkeeper who is a really good age. Especially for a goalkeeper, young at age, but already with experience. For me, it is important that he comes with confidence. He had a really good season with Lyon, qualified for the Europa League. He comes with confidence and got lots of praise in the last season.” – Daniel Farke on Lucas Perri
Leeds United first-half XI: Darlow; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Stach, Tanaka; James, Ramazani, Piroe
Leeds United second-half XI: Meslier; Bogle (Crew 76), Bijol, Struijk, Byram; Ampadu (Gruev 60), Stach (Longstaff 60), Tanaka (Aaronson 60); Gnonto, Harrison, Nmecha
BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION 2-0 COVENTRY CITY
- Goals: Ayari, Sima
- Assists: O’Riley, Moran
In another behind-closed-doors friendly, Brighton beat Coventry City 2-0, with Yasin Ayari (£5.0m) and Abdallah Sima (£5.5m) grabbing the goals for Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
Ayari, who has now scored two goals and provided one assist in pre-season, impressed next to Jack Hinshelwood (£5.5m) in the first half.
The Seagulls made a series of changes just after the hour, with Diego Coppola (£4.5m) and Ferdi Kadioglu (£4.5m) among those sent on.
Adam Webster (4.5m), who will undergo knee surgery after suffering an injury in pre-season, Carlos Baleba (£5.0m), Facundo Buonanotte (£5.0m) and Danny Welbeck (£6.5m) weren’t involved, however.
Diego Gomez (£5.0m) also made way due to sickness, despite only coming on at half-time.
“We had a few players missing with minor issues, but those who played all came through without any major problems. With the exception of Adam [Webster] and Solly March, who is a few weeks off being in full training, we expect to have everyone back within the next week or so.” – Fabian Hurzeler
Brighton and Hove Albion XI: Steele, Wieffer (Veltman 63), Dunk (Simmonds 63), van Hecke (Coppola 63), De Cuyper (Kadioglu 63), Ayari (Milner 45), Hinshelwood (Yalcouye 63), Gruda (Oriola 63), O’Riley (Sarmiento 63), Mitoma (Gomez 45, Moran 63), Rutter (Sima 63)
