Aston Villa vs Bournemouth: Preview and Prediction

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Aston Villa will look to extend their unbeaten run when they face Bournemouth at Villa Park this Saturday in Gameweek 9 of the 2024/25 Premier League season. The weekend’s action kicks off on Friday with Leicester City hosting Nottingham Forest, but all eyes will be on Villa Park as the Villans aim to continue their strong form.

Unai Emery’s side had a shaky start to the season, losing two of their first games. However, since then, they’ve been in excellent form, remaining unbeaten in their last 10 matches, including a stunning victory over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. Aston Villa secured a 2-0 win against Bologna midweek, taking them to the top of their Champions League group. Domestically, they are fourth in the Premier League, trailing Liverpool by four points.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, stunned Arsenal last weekend with a 2-0 win, a result that took them to 11th in the standings. Andoni Iraola’s men delivered a gritty performance to claim a much-needed win, and they’ll hope to build momentum and steer clear of the relegation battle.

Last season’s meeting between these two sides at Villa Park ended with Aston Villa coming from behind to win 3-1. Goals from Morgan Rogers, Moussa Diaby, and Leon Bailey sealed the victory, and the Villans will be looking for a similar outcome this time around.

Aston Villa vs Bournemouth Team News & Tactics

Aston Villa
Unai Emery has a largely fit squad, with Jaden Philogene suspended after his red card last weekend. Emiliano Martinez will start in goal behind a 4-2-3-1 setup, featuring Matty Cash, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, and Lucas Digne in defense. John McGinn and Youri Tielemans will anchor the midfield, while Morgan Rogers, Bailey, and Jacob Ramsey will support striker Ollie Watkins.

Bournemouth
For Bournemouth, Alex Scott is sidelined after knee surgery, while Luis Sinisterra remains unavailable. Andoni Iraola will set his team up in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal. The backline will consist of Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, and Milos Kerkez. In midfield, Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie will feature, while Justin Kluivert will operate as the creative force behind striker Evanilson.

Key Stats

Aston Villa earned four points in their two Premier League meetings with Bournemouth last season.
The Villans are unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches, winning four.
Bournemouth have lost six of their last nine away matches in the Premier League, failing to score in the last two.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has five goals in his last five Premier League appearances and has contributed to five goals in four games against Bournemouth.

Player to Watch

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Morgan Rogers has been pivotal for Aston Villa this season. His ability to make game-changing runs and deliver key passes will be crucial for the home side as they aim to secure another victory. Expect Rogers to be a key figure in this clash.