One of the marquee matchups of the Premier League’s 7th round will occur on Sunday in Birmingham, where Aston Villa will take on Manchester United at Villa Park. Here’s a preview and prediction for the match from the expert team at Sportsmacro.
Aston Villa
The “Lions” are proving that last season’s success in the Premier League was no fluke. Under Unai Emery’s guidance, the team is comfortably positioned in the top five, just two points behind league leaders Liverpool. Their only defeat in the first six rounds came against Arsenal, highlighting the squad’s overall consistency.
In the Champions League, Villa has made a strong start as well, thrashing Young Boys 3-0 and following that up with a stunning 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich. This loss marked the end of Bayern’s impressive 41-match unbeaten streak in the Champions League group stage. Interestingly, the last team to defeat Bayern in the group stage was also coached by Emery during his time at PSG in 2017.
Manchester United
The “Red Devils” continue to struggle with consistency, displaying erratic form for the third consecutive season. It seems that the club’s long-standing faith in Erik ten Hag may be waning. Rumors suggest that the Dutchman’s future could depend on the upcoming matches against Porto and Aston Villa. The recent 3-3 draw in the Europa League with Porto has not inspired confidence, making this Premier League clash crucial for Ten Hag’s tenure.
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Despite significant spending in the transfer market, Manchester United has yet to meet expectations. After six rounds, they find themselves in 13th place, just four points above the relegation zone. While victories over Fulham (1-0) and Southampton (3-0) have occurred, they have failed to convince fans or the board of a turnaround.
Key Facts about the match
- Both teams have scored in 4 of their last 5 matches.
- The “Total Over 2.5” bet has also been successful in 4 of those games.
- Aston Villa is currently unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions, securing six victories during that stretch.
Probable Lineups
- Aston Villa: Martínez, Digne, Torres, Carlos, Konsa, Tielemans, Onana, Maatsen, Durán, Rodgers, Watkins.
- Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martínez, Dalot, Eriksen, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford, Zirkzee.
Head-to-Head (H2H)
Last season, Manchester United triumphed over Aston Villa on two occasions, winning 3-2 at Old Trafford and 2-1 at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United Prediction
The “Lions” seem much more cohesive this season and are anticipated to secure all three points in this match. Our recommended bet is “Aston Villa to win with a handicap (0)” at odds of 1.66.
