Preston North End vs Aston Villa: FA Cup Quarter-Final Preview
Preston North End will host Aston Villa at Deepdale Stadium on Sunday in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a semi-final spot up for grabs. This is Preston’s first time in the last eight since the 1965/66 season, so it’s a big occasion for the Lilywhites. Aston Villa will be looking to continue their good form under Unai Emery to get to the final four.
Preston got to this stage by beating Burnley 3-0 in the fifth round after earlier wins over Charlton Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers. But Paul Heckingbottom’s side have struggled for consistency recently, winning just two of their last eight games across all competitions.
Aston Villa have been in good form, winning four on the bounce before the international break. They beat Cardiff City 2-0 in the fifth round after edging past West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur in the earlier rounds. Despite their poor away form in the FA Cup, Villa will be confident going into this one.
Team News & Tactics
Preston North End
Paul Heckingbottom has several selection dilemmas for this one. Sam Greenwood and Ryan Ledson are suspended, Ryan Porteous is cup-tied, and Kaine Kesler-Hayden can’t play against his parent club. Jack Whatmough (calf), Ali McCann (calf,) and Brad Potts (hamstring) are also out.
Preston will play 3-4-1-2. Freddie Woodman will start in goal, with Lewis Gibson, Liam Lindsay and Patrick Bauer at the back. Jordan Storey and Robbie Brady will be the wing-backs, providing defensive cover and width. Ben Whiteman will partner Mads Frokjaer-Jensen in midfield, with Stefan Teitur Thordarson as the No. 10. Will Keane and Milutin Osmajic will lead the line.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Woodman; Gibson, Lindsay, Bauer; Storey, Whiteman, Frokjaer-Jensen, Brady; Thordarson; Keane, Osmajic.
Aston Villa
Unai Emery has less to worry about but will be without Axel Disasi due to ineligibility and Ross Barkley due to a knee injury. Ollie Watkins is fit after shaking off a minor knock.
Villa will play 4-2-3-1. Emiliano Martinez will start in goal, with Matty Cash and Ian Maatsen at full-back. Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings will be the central defensive pairing. John McGinn and Youri Tielemans will be the defensive midfielders and creators. Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford will be the wingers, with Morgan Rogers as the attacking midfielder behind Ollie Watkins.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans; Asensio, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins.
Key Stats
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Preston North End has lost 18 of their last 19 FA Cup games against top-flight opponents.
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Aston Villa has won their last four FA Cup quarter-final matches.
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Preston’s last FA Cup semi-final appearance came in the 1963/64 season.
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Aston Villa has won only one of their last eight away games in the FA Cup.
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The two teams have not met in an FA Cup tie since January 1967, when Aston Villa won 1-0.
Player to Watch: Marco Asensio
Marco Asensio has been sensational for Aston Villa since joining from Real Madrid. The Spanish international has contributed six goals and three assists in his last seven starts across domestic cup competitions. He was pivotal in Villa’s fifth-round victory over Cardiff City and will look to make another decisive impact against Preston.
Preston vs Aston Villa Prediction
While Preston North End’s home advantage could make this an intriguing contest, Aston Villa’s superior quality and recent form make them favorites to advance to the semi-finals. Expect a competitive match with Villa edging out their Championship opponents.
Preston North End 1-2 Aston Villa
Preston vs Aston Villa Live Stream
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