Preview: Indonesia All-Stars vs Aston Villa – prediction, team news, lineup

In the midst of an uneventful summer in the transfer market, Aston Villa will continue to build for the new season on Saturday, when they will play Indonesia All-Stars in Jakarta.

After a successful 2025-26 campaign, Villa will soon return to the Champions League and build up to the UEFA Super Cup, but have recently lost back-to-back friendlies.

Game preview

Having finally secured major silverware last season, lifting the Europa League trophy in May, Aston Villa also held on for fourth place in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League.

Unai Emery’s men beat Freiburg in emphatic fashion in their first European final for 44 years, but much has changed since then, with key midfielder Youri Tielemans and England striker Morgan Rogers both eyeing an exit.

To compensate, both Joao Gomes and Swiss star Johan Manzambi have arrived at the Birmingham club, who recently scored five goals against Walsall in their first pre-season friendly.

After the traditional curtain raiser, Villa stepped up preparations for the 2026-27 campaign by facing Porto and Real Sociedad, but were beaten 2-0 by the Portuguese side. and 4-2 by the Copa del Rey holders.

Now, the Villans will play three friendly matches in Asia, starting with the Indonesia All-Stars on Saturday. Called the Indonesia XI or the Indonesia Dream Team, it annually represents the I-League in friendly matches against foreign opponents.

Previously they played against Inter Milan, Liverpool, Chelsea and Liverpool without ever winning, and last year they lost to Oxford United 6-3.

Immediately after the clash of the teams at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Villa have to face two clubs with a very different situation: the small Thai team BG Pathum United and the German giants Bayern Munich.

Emery’s men will then meet Paris Saint-Germain in Salzburg for the UEFA Super Cup, before opening their Premier League season against Brighton & Hove Albion on August 23.

Aston Villa’s pre-season form:

WLL

Team News

While regulars Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia all started in Tuesday’s defeat to Real Sociedad, the majority of Aston Villa’s World Cup players are still unavailable.

Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, Victor Lindelof, Lucas Digne, Emi Martinez and summer signing Manzambi – who is still injured – are not expected to feature this weekend.

Signed from LASK last summer before staying with the Austrian club on loan, Modou Cisse has been involved in central defense during pre-season.

After his arrival from Chelsea, Alejandro Garnacho could be involved for the first time, but Boubacar Kamara is recovering from a long-term injury and Amadou Onana (ACL) will be out for the foreseeable future.

In Watkins’ absence, young forward Brian Madjo has hit three pointers in multiple games; the Luxembourg international could challenge Tammy Abraham for the starting spot.

Meanwhile, home coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto has selected a squad that includes Indonesian stars Kelly Stroyer, Reno Salampessy and Arkhan Kaka, the latter of whom was recently called up by senior national team manager John Herdman for the first time.

Among the All-Stars’ outfield players, Portuguese midfielder Ze Valente and Madura United’s Jordy Wehrmann stand out, while Dutch striker Ezra Walian scored several free-kicks in the 2025-2026 I-League campaign.

Possible Indonesia All-Stars in the starting line-up:

It rains; Kaffa, Yama, Scheunemann, Guntara; Slamat, Tanjung, Wehrmann, Valente; Kaka, Walian

Aston Villa likely to start:

Bizot; Money, Cisse, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Gomes; Pits, Hemmings, Buendia; Madjo

We say: Indonesia All-Stars 1-4 Aston Villa

Tougher tests lie ahead, but after two friendly defeats, Aston Villa can return to winning ways with a comfortable victory in Jakarta.

Now fresh from three summer fixtures, the Villans will have plenty of firepower in a rapidly assembled I-League XI.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.