Aston Villa is set to face off against Crystal Palace in a highly anticipated Premier League showdown. With both teams eager to secure a victory, we delve into the match prediction, team news, and expected lineups for this thrilling encounter.
Aston Villa’s Season Start
Aston Villa’s performance this season has been a mixed bag. While they secured an impressive 8-0 aggregate victory over Hibernian to qualify for the Europa Conference League group stage, their Premier League form has been inconsistent, with two wins and two losses in their first four fixtures.
The 3-0 loss against Liverpool was a setback, but they have a strong home record, winning their last eight top-flight matches at Villa Park.
Their winning streak at Villa Park began with a narrow 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace last March. This victory extended their unbeaten home record against the Eagles to six matches.
Now, Villa aims to return to winning ways and build momentum as they prepare for upcoming fixtures.
Crystal Palace’s Promising Start
Crystal Palace enters this fixture on a positive note, with a 4-2 comeback win against Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Cup and a 3-2 home victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
Despite a goalless first half, they secured their second league win of the season. Manager Roy Hodgson acknowledges that there is work to be done, but the team is showing promise.
Crystal Palace faces a challenging month ahead with fixtures against Aston Villa, Fulham, and a double-header with Manchester United in the league and EFL Cup. They aim to continue their positive momentum.
Head-to-Head History
Palace has struggled at Villa Park, winning only once in their last 11 visits. They’ve scored just five goals during this period, but this season, they’ve shown resilience on the road, remaining undefeated so far.
A draw against Villa would mark their first three away league games without a loss since the 1994-95 season.
Team News
Aston Villa will miss several key players due to injury, including Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Jacob Ramsey, and Tim Iroegbunam.
Diego Carlos and Alex Moreno are doubtful. In contrast, Phillipe Coutinho has joined Qatari club Al-Duhail on loan.
Crystal Palace faces injury concerns with Michael Olise, Matheus Franca, and a potential doubt in Marc Guehi.
However, Rob Holding may make his debut in defense. Will Hughes is in contention to start, alongside Cheick Doucoure and Jefferson Lerma.
Possible Starting Lineups
Aston Villa:
- Martinez
- Cash
- Konsa
- Torres
- Digne
- Bailey
- Kamara
- Luiz
- McGinn
- Diaby
- Watkins
Crystal Palace:
- Johnstone
- Ward
- Holding
- Andersen
- Mitchell
- Doucoure
- Lerma
- Ayew
- Eze
- Schlupp
- Edouard
Match Prediction
Expect a closely-fought contest between Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, as history suggests. However, Villa’s strong home record makes them the favorites to secure maximum points.
Final Score Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace