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| Leon Bailey of Aston Villa fights for possession during the friendly match between Rennes and Aston Villa at Roazhon Park on July 30, 2022 in Rennes, France. |
Fired-up Reggae Boy
Leon Bailey was Aston Villa’s hero again as the English Premier League side
rounded off their pre-season campaign with an impressive 2-1 win over Rennes at
a baking-hot Roazhon Park in France at the weekend.
It was the 24-year-old
Jamaican winger’s third goal of the summer with a volley past goalkeeper Steve
Mandanda to equalise after 14 minutes.
Villa had gone a goal
down after just seven minutes when Rennes’ summer signing Arthur Theate was
given a free run off Boubacar Kamara to rifle home from close range.
However, just seven
minutes later Bailey popped up once again, striking his effort via Lucas
Digne’s cross into the ground and in to equalise.
Steven Gerrard’s men
took the lead with a little less than 10 minutes remaining as substitute Ashley
Young combined with Philippe Coutinho for a short corner with the former
crossing for Diego Carlos, who headed home for 2-1.
The win was just the
tonic for manager Steven Gerrard whose side open the new league campaign with
an away game against promoted Bournemouth.
It followed their
pre-season trips to Australia and France in which Villa went unbeaten,
including a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against top-flight rivals Manchester
United.
Bailey, whose last campaign was dogged by injury after he moved from German club Bayer Leverkusen, said: “Nice to end pre-season with another win. Happy to be on the scoresheet again. Looking forward to the Premier League now.”
