Aston Villa FC vs Manchester United FC, English Premier League 2024-25, Today Match Prediction

Aston Villa FC vs Manchester United FC Match Prediction & Analysis

The last time Aston Villa finished in the top 4 of the Premier League was in the 1995-96 season. It wouldn’t take a lot for you to guess who won the league that season. If you guessed Man United, you’re absolutely spot on. The Red Devils went onto win the league with 82 points while Villa finished on 63. 

Fast forward today and look at how the tables have turned. Aston Villa are not just enjoying their time in the Premier League with Unai at the helm, but are also thriving in Europe after recently shocking German heavyweights and 6 time Champions League winners, Bayern Munich. The team from the midlands are ready to take on the season, and they’re doing it in formidable fashion, so much so Prince William is being spotted at Villa Park. 

Manchester United have had a dismal start to the season. They don’t seem an ounce of the team that used to conquer England. Ten Hag has now been on the edge of his seat, not knowing when he’ll be given marching orders. Luckily, the Red Devils midweek trip to Portuguese port city Porto didn’t end in misery as Maguire rose to the occasion and salvaged a point to make it 3-3. Patience is running thin in Manchester, and this might prove to be the game that defines it for Eric Ten Hag. 

Head-to-Head Record : Both teams have met on 175 previous occasions. The Red Devils have won 93 of those encounters, Villa has won 41, apart from 41 draws played out. 

Current Standings : The Villans currently sit in 5th spot after 6 games having amassed 13 points. The points amassed by one club is the position that the other occupies with United sitting on 13th, way below expected levels with a paltry 7 points to show. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Aston Villa FC Preview

Aston Villa have picked up 13 points in their opening 6 Premier League matches this season (W4, D1, L1), their best start to a season since Martin O’Neil in 2008-09 (also 13 points). Unfortunately, Villa have won only 1 of their previous 25 home games against Manchester United (D8, L16), with that victory coming in Unai Emery’s first game in charge in November 2022. That being said, since Unai Emery’s first game in charge of Villa only Man City (85), Liverpool (84) and Arsenal (81) have picked up more points at home than Villa (74).

Players to watch out for 

Ollie Watkins who scored 19 Premier League goals last season looks to better his record. He has now been involved in 55 goals in 67 Premier League appearances under Unai Emery for Villa (36 goals, 19 assists), with only Erling Haaland (65) and Salah (60) scoring or assisting more in that time. Watkins is looking to score in 4 consecutive games for the first time since April 2023. 

Another player to watch out for is Duran who has now netted 4 goals in his past 4 Premier League appearances for Villa, all as a substitute. Duran averages a goal every 43 minutes at Villa Park in the competition, the second best ratio by a player at a single venue after Luis Suarez at Carrow Road (a goal every 38 minutes).

Stats That Matter 

Aston Villa are ranked 8th in ball possession with 52.2% averaging 11.5 shots per game. The Lions score an average of 2 goals per match with a shooting accuracy of 38%. Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins are the top scorers with 4 goals each. Amadou Onana has also scored 2 goals in the 6 matches played this season. The team has an average of 2.2 saves per game, the 2nd worst in the season. They have conceded an average of 1.50 goals per match.

Injury list - Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash and John McGinn have all been sidelined for this much anticipated affair. 

Aston Villa Probable Starting Lineup -  Martinez (GK), Maatsen, Konsa, Torres, Carlos (DEF), Tielemans, Barkley, Philogene, Rogers, Bailey (MID), Watkins (FWD).

Manchester United FC Preview

Manchester United have won 40 Premier League games against Aston Villa. The only team that the Red Devils have beaten more often is Everton (41). But, now times have changed. United have lost 8 Premier League matches by a margin of three or more goals under Erik Ten Hag. Since the start of the season, only current Premier League managers to suffer more 3+ goal defeats is Gary O’Neil and Sean Dyche (9 each). 

We don’t have to look far to experience a statistic or story of this sort. Despite leading by 2 first half goals, United shipped 3 against Porto in their midweek Europa League fixture. At this stage of the league, they’ve amassed the joint fewest points (2013-14, Moyes) and (2020-21, Solskjaer), and we know exactly what happened to those managers. It just feels like the Dutchman is a game away from being sacked. 

Players to watch out for 

Every time Marcus got on the ball at Estadio Do Dragao, the Porto backline was in panic. Rashford has a unique ability to take on defenders head on with passion and gusto. This belief that defines his personality needs to be reignited. The Mancunian who joined the Red Devils when he was 7 is in dire need to perform to get his club back to where they belong. 

In 62 games played since the last season, United has conceded on 31 occasions, the most by any current Premier League side. Andre Onana has been right in the mix of that. Sometimes sluggish, sometimes saviour. A lot of how he performs will dictate Sunday’s affair at Villa Park. 

Stats That Matter 

Manchester United are ranked 7th in ball possession with 52.5% averaging 13.2 shots per game. The Red Devils score an average of 0.83 goals per match with a shooting accuracy of 38%. Matthijs De Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Traore are the top scorers with 1 goal each this season. The team has an average of 3 saves per game, the 9th best in the season. They have conceded an average of 1.33 goals per match.

Injury list - Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount will all miss through injury. 

Man Utd Probable Starting Lineup - Onana (GK), Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot (DEF), Ugarte, Mainoo, Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho (MID), Hojlund (FWD).

ASTON VILLA FC vs MANCHESTER UNITED FC
Winning Prediction

Ten Hag is refusing to worry about his job, but if he doesn’t get this one right, another war could potentially break out. United seem to play better under pressure. So when the Dutchman says that there’s no need to press the panic button, maybe the panic button is what he needs to hit more often. Villa’s defence will offer the solidity that this team is built around, for players like Ollie Watkins and Duran to sniff any weaknesses in the Red Devils backline and win this fixture. 

Aston Villa to Win (3-1)

1xBet

330% up to ₹65,000 on your 1st Deposit with Reg Code: TOPBK

BET NOW