---
title: "Benfica joins Villarreal's tough pre-season lineup"
description: "Villarreal adds Benfica to a summer schedule packed with top-flight opponents to sharpen their squad before the new campaign."
url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/el-benfica-se-suma-a-la-exigente-pretemporada-del-villarreal-a3e8f40e
published: 2026-07-01T20:24:28.909+00:00
updated: 2026-07-01T20:24:28.909+00:00
author: "Kostadin Stamboliev"
publisher: "Pineido"
site: "Sportopod"
language: en
topics: ["soccer"]
---

# Benfica joins Villarreal's tough pre-season lineup

> Villarreal adds Benfica to a summer schedule packed with top-flight opponents to sharpen their squad before the new campaign.

Villarreal has added Benfica to a punishing pre-season calendar that already included PSV Eindhoven, Como, Crystal Palace and Lens.

The Yellow Submarine will face five competitive opponents across Europe and the United Kingdom, using the summer to fine-tune tactics and evaluate squad depth before the new LaLiga season.

Matches against Benfica in Portugal and Crystal Palace at home bookend the campaign, with PSV and Lens providing Ligue 1-level intensity and Como delivering Serie B opposition.

The schedule spans five weeks, starting on July 13 against Como at home and closing with Crystal Palace on August 14.

Benfica’s visit to Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica on August 7 is the marquee tie, pitting Unai Emery’s side against a Champions League-bound opponent.

PSV Eindhoven lands on July 27, while Lens arrives on July 30, each offering a different tactical profile to test Villarreal’s pressing, transitions and set-piece routines.

Villarreal’s pre-season is designed to expose weaknesses early.

The club’s sporting director, Juan Fuster, has repeatedly stressed the value of high-intensity friendlies against varied competition. “We need to see how our new signings integrate and how the squad handles back-to-back games at this level,” Fuster said.

The schedule also allows fringe players to stake claims ahead of a congested domestic and European calendar.

What’s next: Villarreal will open their pre-season with Como on July 13, then travel to PSV Eindhoven on July 27 before hosting Benfica on August 7.

The final test comes against Crystal Palace on August 14.

## Why this matters

Facing Benfica, PSV and Lens in pre-season signals Villarreal’s ambition to compete at the highest level. These matches will reveal whether Emery’s tactical adjustments translate into results and whether the squad’s summer recruitment addresses last season’s defensive lapses. With European football’s physical demands rising, the Yellow Submarine can’t afford a soft pre-season—every fixture is a stress test before the league curtain-raiser.

## Frequently asked

### Which teams will Villarreal face in pre-season?

Villarreal will play Como, PSV Eindhoven, Benfica, Crystal Palace and Lens during summer 2025.

### Where and when does Villarreal play Benfica?

Benfica visits Villarreal at Estadio de la Cerámica on August 7, 2025, as part of the pre-season schedule.

### Why did Villarreal add Benfica to the pre-season slate?

The club aims to test its squad against Champions League-level opposition to prepare for the new LaLiga and European campaigns.

### How long is Villarreal’s pre-season this year?

The campaign spans five weeks, starting July 13 against Como and concluding August 14 against Crystal Palace.

### What tactical benefits does this schedule offer Villarreal?

High-intensity matches against varied opponents let Unai Emery evaluate pressing, transitions and set-piece execution before competitive fixtures.

## Sources & Citations

- [El Benfica se suma a la exigente pretemporada del Villarreal](https://as.com/futbol/el-benfica-se-suma-a-la-exigente-pretemporada-del-villarreal-f202606-n/) — GNews.io (2026-06-18)

---

Cite: Benfica joins Villarreal's tough pre-season lineup. Sportopod, 2026-07-01. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/el-benfica-se-suma-a-la-exigente-pretemporada-del-villarreal-a3e8f40e