As the Premier League season approaches its climax, Aston Villa gears up to face Brighton in a crucial showdown with European qualification implications on May 5th.
Match Preview
Aston Villa has a strong record against Brighton, winning 5 out of their last 6 matches across all competitions, including a 6-1 victory earlier this season.
They now have the opportunity to secure a top-four spot as they face Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Currently fourth in the league, Aston Villa is seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur with three games remaining. A victory would ensure their qualification for the Champions League.
Brighton’s promising start to the season faltered around Christmas due to injuries, key player losses, and European football commitments under Roberto De Zerbi.
Sitting in 12th place, Brighton is enduring a poor run of form, failing to win any of their last six matches and scoring only two goals while conceding 13.
In their recent defeats to Manchester City and Bournemouth, Brighton conceded a total of seven goals without finding the net themselves.
Contrastingly, Aston Villa has collected 11 points from their last 18 available, scoring 13 goals and conceding 10. They remain unbeaten in their last four matches.
A strong away side, Aston Villa has earned 28 points on the road out of their total 67. They have been prolific goal-scorers, ranking fifth in the league with 73 goals, including six against Brighton in the reverse fixture.
Brighton has struggled at home, losing their last two matches without scoring against Arsenal and Manchester City. With a goal difference of -5 after 35 games, their attacking prowess has been lacking.
Ollie Watkins, in contention for the Golden Boot award, has scored 19 goals this season, contributing to 26% of Aston Villa’s total goals. Although he hasn’t scored in his last two matches, he has provided two assists.
On the Brighton side, Joao Pedro leads the goal-scoring charts with eight goals but hasn’t found the net since suffering a hamstring injury in February.
Prediction & Analysis:
Expect an intense battle as both teams aim for crucial points.
Despite Brighton’s struggles, they are likely to put up a fight, especially with Pedro eager to make an impact.
However, Aston Villa’s superior form and goal-scoring prowess, especially away from home, suggest they will emerge victorious, possibly with a scoreline of 2-1 in their favor.
- Brighton 1-2 Aston Villa