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

Southampton FC vs Aston Villa FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Southampton, a club in turmoil after being relegated to the second division and now without a first choice manager, will host Aston Villa on Saturday for a round 32 Premier League (PL) encounter at 7:30 p.m. IST. Both teams arrive with differing fortunes—while the hosts look to bounce back from a humbling 3-1 defeat to Spurs, the in-form Villans ride the momentum of a crucial 2-1 win over Nottingham, keeping their Champions League dreams alive.

Current Standings: Southampton  continues to languish at the last position in the table with just 10 points, while Aston Villa  is placed at the 7th position with 51 points.  

Head-to-Head Record: Aston Villa holds the edge in this 43-game rivalry, boasting a narrow 18-16 win-loss record. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Southampton FC Preview

The inevitable has finally happened—Southampton’s relegation is now official. After what felt like months of decline, the club pulled the plug on Ivan Jurić’s short-lived tenure, ending his 105-day stint after just two wins in 16 outings across all competitions. 

Stepping in for the final stretch is U21 boss Simon Rusk, now tasked with steadying a sinking ship as interim manager. With seven games left, Rusk’s first real mission is to steer Southampton past the dreaded 11-point mark—the Premier League’s lowest-ever tally and a record no club wants to own.

Key Stats

Last week's loss to Tottenham meant, Southampton became the first team in Premier League history to be relegated with seven games yet to be played. The Saints have now matched their Premier League record of 25 defeats in a season, set in their 2022/23 campaign. 

The Saints have lost six of their last seven games and have conceded at least two goals in each of them. The hosts are also winless in their last 10 home league games, nine of which ended in defeat.

Team News 

Flynn Downes is set to miss the next two games after hitting ten yellow cards, while Albert Gronbaek remains a doubt. Despite this, Rusk hinted at a “fairly clean bill of health,” though Charlie Taylor is sidelined with injury.

Southampton Probable XI - Ramsdale; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Manning; Ugochukwu, Aribo; Dibling, Fernandes, Sulemana; Archer

Aston Villa FC Preview

On paper, it’s a mismatch—Unai Emery’s in-form side, riding three straight wins and just one loss in seven, should breeze past struggling Southampton. With a crucial Champions League second leg against PSG just three days away—and trailing 3-1—Emery may think twice about fielding a full-strength squad. Risking key players now could cost them dearly with a semi-final spot on the line.

That said, with just two points separating them from fourth-placed Chelsea, Saturday’s clash with Southampton is a golden chance for Villa to jump from 7th to 4th—and grab hold of a coveted Champions League spot for the time being. 

Key Stats 

Despite a strong home record, Aston Villa have struggled on their travels this season, with seven of their eight league defeats occurring away from Villa Park. Interestingly, they are currently on a two-match winning streak on the road, suggesting a potential shift in their away form. 

Recent Villa matches have tended to be high-scoring affairs, as five of their last nine league games have seen over 2.5 goals. However, their away defense has been leaky, conceding two or more goals in seven of their last ten away fixtures. Leading their attack is Ollie Watkins, who has been in fine form, netting 13 league goals so far this campaign.

Team News 

With rotations likely, Donyell Malen—fresh off goals in back-to-back games—should get the nod, especially since he's not in the UCL squad. Similarly, Watkins might get a nod over Rashford after warming the benches for the PSG game. Meanwhile, Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey are set to miss the trip to the South Coast. 

Aston Villa Probable XI - Martinez (GK), Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Tielemans, Malen, Asensio, Rogers, Watkins

SOUTHAMPTON FC vs ASTON VILLA FC
Winning Prediction

With a Champions League showdown just days away, this clash offers Villa the ideal chance to rotate—especially against a struggling Southampton side and considering both teams’ recent form. However, Emery will be mindful that Villa have won just 2 of their 9 league games after Champions League outings, with half of their Premier League losses coming right after European nights. That stat alone gives Southampton a glimmer of hope—and with nothing left to lose, they might just play with the freedom to finally show their best football.

Aston Villa to Win (1-2)

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