Aston Villa will host Manchester United at Villa Park this Sunday, as the two clubs face off in what promises to be an intriguing Gameweek 7 fixture. The teams have had contrasting fortunes so far in the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Aston Villa has enjoyed a superb start to the campaign, sitting just three points behind league leaders Liverpool heading into this round of fixtures. Unai Emery’s side has been in top form, both domestically and in Europe. Their confidence is sky-high after securing a 1-0 victory against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League earlier this week, adding to their growing reputation as one of the top contenders this season.
Manchester United, on the other hand, has struggled for consistency, making this a crucial game for Erik ten Hag’s men as they aim to turn their season around.
As both teams prepare for this pivotal encounter, Villa’s solid form and home advantage will make them a tough opponent for United, who will be desperate to pick up valuable points to keep their campaign on track.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United Team News & Tactics
Aston Villa
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Rogers, Barkley, Tielemans, Philogene; Duran, Watkins
Manchester United
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
Key Stats for Aston Villa vs. Manchester United
As Aston Villa prepares to take on Manchester United at Villa Park, here are some key statistics that highlight both teams’ form and individual player performances:
- Villa’s Struggles at Home vs. United: Aston Villa has only managed one victory in their last 25 Premier League home matches against Manchester United. That lone win came in Unai Emery’s first game in charge in November 2022, when Villa beat United 3-1. United’s 40 Premier League wins against Villa is their second-highest tally against any club, behind only their 41 wins over Everton.
- Villa’s Strong Home Form Under Emery: Since Unai Emery took charge, Villa has earned 74 points at home—only Manchester City (85), Liverpool (84), and Arsenal (81) have accumulated more during the same period.
- United’s Goal-Scoring Issues: Manchester United has failed to score in three of their six Premier League matches this season—more than any other team. However, they are capable of keeping a clean sheet in three consecutive away league games for the first time since March 2021.
- Ollie Watkins’ Impact: Ollie Watkins has been in scintillating form under Unai Emery, registering 36 goals and 19 assists in 67 Premier League appearances. Only Erling Haaland (65) and Mohamed Salah (60) have contributed to more goals in that time. Watkins is also on the verge of scoring in four consecutive league games for the first time since April 2023.
- Marcus Rashford’s Recent Resurgence: Marcus Rashford has found his goal-scoring touch again, netting four times in his last six games across all competitions—matching his tally from his previous 21 appearances. However, Rashford has struggled against Aston Villa in recent years, with his only Premier League goal against them coming in his debut fixture in 2016. He has since gone eight games without scoring against Villa.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
Prediction
Aston Villa 3-1 Manchester United
How to Watch Aston Villa vs Manchester United
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