Aston Villa to face newcomers Bayer Leverkusen in Soccer Sevens
Defending champions will be out for their seventh Hong Kong trophy after being drawn against the German newcomers in their group for May tournament
Defending HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens champions Aston Villa will face German newcomers Bayer Leverkusen, HKFA U-23 and competition regulars Singapore Cricket Club in an intriguing looking group C after the draw for the May 26-28 tournament took place at Hong Kong Football Club on Tuesday.
Villa defeated West Ham United 2-0 in last year’s final to lift the trophy for a record sixth time, having last been victorious in 2010.
And the holders’ match against Leverkusen – the first side from Germany to compete in the tournament – promises to be one of the most interesting of the group stage.
“We knew it was going to be exciting with the new teams coming in,” said tournament director Chris Plowman.
“But looking at the Germans, Bayer Leverkusen, taking on the current champions Aston Villa – and then our own Hong Kong Football Association and Singapore Cricket Club – that’s an interesting group.”
Leverkusen are one of three debutants from Europe, with Olympique Marseille and Cagliari Calcio becoming the first teams from France and Italy respectively to feature at an annual event that now has an even greater international flavour.