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

Fulham FC vs Aston Villa FC Match Prediction & Analysis

The contest between Fulham and Aston Villa at Craven Cottage on Saturday will be a clash of a team that is yet to taste defeat at home this season (W2, D1) up against a side that is yet to be defeated on the road (W4, D1) in all competitions this season. 

Fulham will go into the encounter against Villa with confidence, having recently beaten Newcastle (3-1), Nottingham (1-0), and going toe-to-toe with Manchester City (2-3) at the Etihad. But it's nothing compared to what Villa accomplished earlier this month when they defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in the Champions League. However, recent Premier League outcomes did not match their expectations, as Villa's last two matches ended in draws. 

Current Standings: Both teams occupy the top half of the league standings; Fulham are at 8th, whereas Villa are in the fifth position. 

Head-to-Head Record: Aston Villa leads the head-to-head battles between the teams with a win-loss record of 14-7 in 32 matches. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Fulham FC Preview

After their match against City at the Etihad, coach Silva said, “We have to be really unhappy with the result. We had clear chances to get a different result.” And he was spot on. In the match against City, they had an xG more than their opponents and created more chances as well. It was indeed a great opportunity missed, but the Cottagers are still in a strong position in the points table, with 11 points in 8th place, just a win away from the top six. 

Mastermind on the Touchline: Marco Silva

The Cottagers suffered a big blow ahead of the new season with the departure of the Palhinha from the side. Instead of trying to cover up for his absence by adding a stop-gap solution, Silva opted for a more attacking option by adding a progressive options in the midfield by fielding Andreas Pereira and Emile Smith Rowe in the starting lineups. 

Carlos Vinicius and Jorge Cuenca are both working their way back from foot ailments, while Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey may be touch-and-go after returning from representing Nigeria.

Stats That Matter 

Fulham are ranked 9th in ball possession with 49.4% averaging 15 shots per game. The Cottagers score an average of 1.43 goals per match with a shooting accuracy of 32%. Raul Jimenez is the top scorer with 3 goals. Emile Smith Rowe has also scored 2 goals this season. The team has an average of 3 saves per game, the 12th best in the season. They have conceded an average of 1.14 goals per match.

Fulham Probable XI - Leno (GK), Tete, Andersen, Robinson, Bassey (Defenders);  Lukic, Pereira, Berge (Midfielders); Jimenez, Traore & Iwobi (Forwards)

Aston Villa FC Preview

Villa are suffering the same issue as Spurs. They are straining to cope with the demands of the European Championship and Premier League schedules. It will be difficult for a team that is not accustomed to playing at the best level on a regular basis.  Had it not been for Jhon Duran’s cameos in the recent games, Villa wouldn't have been in the position they are currently in. 

What makes them tick

The resilience shown by them to comeback from tough situations has been the hallmark of this team. When they fall behind a goal, you know they'll come back stronger. This season, their defence has also been a strength. They have conceded only nine goals this season and have an xGA of 6.93, which is the second best. If they guard their post like they have done this season, there is no way Fulham can come out on top in this match. 

Team News 

John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey, Amadou Onana, Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, and Ezri Konsa may all be in contention to make their way back into the squad after missing out from the recent games due to injuries. 

Stats That Matter 

Aston Villa are ranked 7th in ball possession with 52.4% averaging 11.4 shots per game. The Lions score an average of 1.71 goals per match with a shooting accuracy of 34%. Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran are the top scorers with 4 goals a piece. Amadou Onana has also scored 2 goals this season. The team has an average of 2.4 saves per game, the fourth worst in the season. They have conceded an average of 1.29 goals per match.

Aston Villa Probable XI - Martínez (GK), Digne, Torres, Carlos, Cash ( Defenders) ; Barkley, Tielemans, Bailey,  Rogers, Philogene (Midfielders) ; Watkins (Forward) 

FULHAM FC vs ASTON VILLA FC
Winning Prediction

Aston Villa are 3-0 in their last three games against Fulham. Last season they did a double by beating Fulham 3-1 and 2-1. Furthermore, Villa are unbeaten in their last five games, and not to mention they are undefeated in away games this season. However, it's worth noting that Fulham are yet to be defeated at the Craven Cottage this season.

It's a difficult choice to choose a winner from this contest, given the home record and away record of the teams coming into the contest. Regardless, based on recent form, most betting sites back Fulham to win this match. In the meantime, we expect an xG of 2.5/3.

Despite not being at their best, Aston Villa have managed to gain points through resolute defense. For this reason alone, we like to place our bet on Villa to win this contest or come out with a draw. 

Aston Villa to Win (2-1)

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