Aston Villa face Man Utd in a crucial end of season clash
Aston Villa’s Champions League pursuit reaches its dramatic climax on the final day of the season when they travel to Old Trafford to take on the worst-performing Manchester United team in 51 years.
The Villans were held to a 0-0 draw when they last faced United in October and are aiming to record their first victory at the Theatre of Dreams in four years, in a run stretching all the way back to September 2021 when a rare Kortney Hause decided the contest in a 1-0 victory.
However, this current group of players is a million miles from the United of old, with Ruben Amorim’s side languishing in 16th position, with a pitiful tally of just 39 points while losing their most games in a league campaign since 1934. Villa enter the match as hot favourites to triumph against the beaten Europa League finalists, and know that if they can better the result of either Chelsea or Newcastle United then they will gatecrash the top five and secure their place in the Champions League for a second consecutive season.
Unai Emery made three changes to the Villa team for that particular contest. But can we expect even more rotation this time around? Here’s our predicted Aston Villa lineup ahead of what promises to be a grandstand finish to the Premier League season.
Goalkeeper and defence
GK -Emiliano Martinez: The two-time Yashin Trophy winner has kept three consecutive clean sheets and will hope to record his fourth in a row on what could potentially be his last game in Claret and Blue after five exceptional years between the posts.
RB - Matty Cash: Cash is ahead of Andres Garcia in the pecking order as it stands and will be determined to help his side to a clean sheet as he aims to strike a dent in his former side Nottingham Forest’s European dreams.
CB -Ezri Konsa: The England international remains one of the first names on the teamsheet and has enjoyed a stellar 2024/25 season at the back.
CB - Pau Torres: The Spaniard returned to replace Tyrone Mings at the heart of the defence and showcased his quality with an assured performance at the back.
LB - Lucas Digne: Unai Emery has rotated between Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen throughout the past few months and it remains anyone's guess which player he will side with at Old Trafford. However, the experienced Frenchman has often had the nod on the big occasions.
Midfield and attack
CM - Boubacar Kamara: Former Marseille star Boubacar Kamara has started all of the team’s last five matches and is currently enjoying his best season to date in a Villa shirt. He’ll be crucial to nullifying the threat of Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the park.
CM - Amadou Onana: The former Everton man has made the position his own in recent weeks due to the absence of injured in-form Belgian Youri Tielemans.
RM - Morgan Rogers: Premier League Young Player of the Season Morgan Rogers has been in outstanding form for Villa in recent weeks and has claimed assists in both of the last two victories.
CAM - Marco Asensio: The Spanish international has impressed since his loan move from Real Madrid and has the big-game experience required to make a difference in this contest.
LM - John McGinn: A key leader in the dressing room and a major player in Villa’s push for European football. The Scotland international is likely to start in this pivotal contest.
ST - Ollie Watkins: Marcus Rashford’s injury woes once again make Ollie Watkins the undisputed starter in attack. He’s Villa’s highest scorer of the Premier League era and one of the finest strikers in the division.
Aston Villa predicted XI: Martinez, Cash, Torres, Konsa, Digne, Onana, Kamara, Rogers, Asensio, McGinn, Watkins.
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