Nashville SC vs. Aston Villa Tips and Odds – 02/08/2025

• Fixture: Nashville SC vs Aston Villa (International Club Friendly)
• Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025
• Venue: GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee

Match Preview

Nashville SC hosts English Premier League giants Aston Villa for a scintillating summer friendly at GEODIS Park, marking the first time the Boys in Gold face a club from one of Europe’s “Big Five” leagues. Nashville is riding high this season, boasting one of the league’s strongest home records with just a single defeat at their fortress and an unbeaten run at GEODIS Park stretching to 11 matches. Their recent 1-0 loss away at San Diego FC was only their second defeat in the last 19 outings across all competitions, highlighting impressive form and a squad brimming with confidence. Standout forward Sam Surridge has been a goal machine, tied with Lionel Messi for the MLS Golden Boot lead, while reliable keeper Joe Willis continues stacking clean sheets. Nashville’s form line over the last month reads: 4 wins and 2 losses—showing both resilience and attacking flair.

Aston Villa arrives on the back of a historic campaign, having performed well in the Premier League and reached the Champions League quarterfinals versus Paris Saint-Germain, as well as the FA Cup semifinals. The Villans recently kicked off their US preseason tour, blending established names with new signings. Their most recent friendlies, however, ended in narrow defeats—1-3 to Hansa Rostock and 0-1 to Walsall—suggesting they’re shaking off some offseason rust as Unai Emery tries to integrate fresh faces into his high-tempo system. Still, the Villans bring plenty of European pedigree and a roster loaded with international talent, eager to impress American audiences and tune up ahead of a demanding 2025-26 campaign.

The injury situation could shape this encounter. For Nashville, defender Taylor Washington and Tyler Boyd remain long-term absentees with knee injuries, while Maximus Ekk (knee) and Tate Schmitt (hamstring) are also sidelined; Jacob Shaffelburg is a fitness doubt (ankle). Aston Villa faces possible preseason absences for Emiliano Buendía (knee) and Tyrone Mings (knee). Jacob Ramsey may also miss out with a foot injury, but new arrivals such as Yasin Özcan and Zépiqueno Redmond could feature, adding intrigue to Emery’s lineup options.

Key players in this match include Nashville’s red-hot striker Sam Surridge, whose scoring is directly tied to Nashville’s dominant results, and versatile defender Andy Najar, who leads MLS defenders in goal contributions. In midfield, Hany Mukhtar’s creativity remains vital for unlocking tough defenses. For Aston Villa, look to Ollie Watkins up front to capitalize on any preseason lapses, while World Cup-winner Emiliano Martínez (if fit) brings stability in goal. Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey will be central to controlling the tempo and chance creation for the visitors.

Prediction

This promises to be a competitive, high-tempo clash: Nashville’s cohesion and home record may trouble a still-gelling Villa. Expect Nashville to attack with urgency in front of a lively home crowd, while Villa’s quality should shine through as legs loosen late on. A fun, open match is on the cards—possibly ending in a 2-2 or narrow 2-1 Aston Villa win, with both teams likely to rotate and entertain.

Key Betting Markets

Odds are representative and may vary.

Get ready for a spectacle where Music City meets Premier League style—expect fireworks, new faces, and goals as both teams tune up for their respective campaigns.