Preseason match report: Helenius scores second in tour finale

Nicklas Helenius seems intent on joining Andi Weimann as "people who will make fans forget that Christian Benteke was a thing (who may still be a thing [but likely isn't.])" The Danish striker scored his second goal of Aston Villa's preseason tour of Germany in a 1-1 draw against VfL Bochum. The draw was the club's third such scoreline of the tour.

Helenius was part of the team's second-half lineup and took only two minutes to head home the goal that seemed for most of the rest of the match would win it for VIlla. Then, in the final ten minutes (stop me if you've heard this before), Yusuke Tasaka fired home the draw-saving goal past Jed Steer. Reports from those who could actually see that match indicate that the team looked much better in the second half than they did the first.

So three matches in Germany and three 1-1 draws. It's not a great string of results, but as Paul Lambert keeps emphasizing, these fixtures aren't about results, but rather about fitness. Hopefully we'll start seeing some more dominance from Villa in their remaining preseason friendlies, all against teams that the club should be beating.

1st half lineup: Guzan, Lowton, Clark, El Ahmadi, Luna, Westwood, Delph, Burke, Weimann, Herd, Carruthers

2nd half lineup: Steer, Vlaar, Baker, Bacuna, Helenius, Albrighton, Webb, Sylla, Bowery, Bennett, Gardner