Aston Villa beats Sevilla 3-1 on Emery's emotional return to win the Antonio Puerta Trophy

Aston Villa lifted the 15th Antonio Puerta Trophy with a 3-1 win over Sevilla at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. Unai Emery returned to the stadium where he made his name as an elite coach and watched his side produce a far stronger second half, overturning Isaac Romero's early opener through goals from Barkley, Garnacho and Jenner.

Sevilla vs Aston Villa final score and goalscorers

• Sevilla took the lead through Isaac Romero, who pounced on a rebound after Peque's shot was blocked by the Villa defense.
• Ross Barkley equalized following a mistake by academy player Mario Díaz.
• Alejandro Garnacho, the visitors' liveliest player, made it 2-1 by tapping in at the far post from an Alisson cross.
• Jenner completed the comeback with a fine team move for the 3-1.

Emotional tribute for Unai Emery on his return to Sevilla

The night had a special protagonist even before kickoff. Unai Emery, the architect of Sevilla's three consecutive Europa League titles in 2014, 2015 and 2016, received the affection of the fans and the club on his return to the visiting bench at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. The Basque coach, now in charge of Aston Villa, enjoyed a reunion full of symbolism at the ground where he lifted European silverware.

Isaac Romero puts Sevilla ahead before Garnacho sparks the comeback

The first half featured another injury for Marcao, who had to leave the pitch, and the opening goal from Isaac Romero for Luis García Plaza's side. The striker latched onto the rebound from a Peque effort that the Aston Villa backline failed to clear convincingly. Yet the flurry of substitutions typical of friendly matches changed the script completely.

Aston Villa, with Garnacho their most threatening player from the start, piled pressure on the goal of Fran González, who was making his debut in Sevilla's first team. The equalizer came through Ross Barkley, who punished a mistake by academy graduate Mario Díaz. Shortly after, Garnacho appeared unmarked at the far post to slot home an Alisson cross.

Jenner's goal seals the Antonio Puerta Trophy for Aston Villa

The final blow came with the third goal, scored by Jenner after a slick collective move from the English side. Aston Villa's greater freshness and technical quality in the second half ended up deciding a match both teams used to maintain competitive rhythm during the break.

Why this match mattered for Sevilla and Aston Villa during the international break

The Antonio Puerta Trophy keeps alive the memory of the Sevilla academy player who tragically died in 2007 while defending the club's shirt. Alongside its emotional significance, the fixture gave Sevilla and Aston Villa a chance to stay sharp during a long break and to hand minutes to squad players and youth prospects.

FAQ about Sevilla vs Aston Villa and the Antonio Puerta Trophy