Aston Villa are in the hunt for a top five finish
Aston Villa are in the hunt for a top five finish
Aston Villa host Tottenham in their final home game of the season on Friday night.
A win would further boost Villa’s hopes of returning to the Champions League ahead of their final-day trip to Manchester United the following weekend.
Villa are locked in a battle with Newcastle United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest for a top-five finish.
Last weekend, Villa beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium, gaining ground on City, Forest, and Chelsea, who all failed to win.
Opponents Tottenham have a Europa League final to look forward to in five days’ time against Manchester United at San Mamés in Bilbao.
They lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace last time out and have won just one of their last 10 league matches - a home victory against Southampton.
Emi Martínez is set to start in goal and could play behind a defence of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, and Ian Maatsen.
Villa haven’t lost any of the 14 league games Tyrone Mings has played this season, but Torres has still been preferred in three of their last four matches in all competitions.
At left-back, Maatsen could return to the starting XI, having started four of the last six league games.
Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana are expected to continue in midfield, while John McGinn should be recalled to the starting lineup with Jacob Ramsey suspended after receiving two yellow cards last time out.
Marco Asensio is likely to continue in the number 10 role, while Morgan Rogers also supports striker Ollie Watkins.
Predicted Villa starting XI : Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn; Watkins.
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