On Sunday, at 12:00, Aston Villa and Southampton are fighting for victory at Villa Park in Birmingham, in a match from the 7th stage of the English championship. Dean Smith’s team has a good record in front of the “saints”, but Ralf Hasenhuttl is a very versatile manager. He managed real miracles on the white-red bench!
Aston Villa had a great start to the Premier League season, before a 0-3 defeat at home to Leeds United. In Villa’s matches, an average of 3.4 goals are scored, but this statistic is influenced by the categorical victory against Liverpool (7-2). The hosts have a relatively good balance on their own field, being undefeated in 67% of the matches in which they started favorites, since the beginning of the previous season. With an efficient offensive game and a good circulation of the ball, the Birmingham team hopes to win the three points.
Southampton come after an excellent result in the previous season, a 2-0 at home to Everton – the revelation of the start of the season in England. It was a flawless game for the “saints”, who have extremely solid defenders. Without a four-match defeat, the “saints” also have the statistics of direct duels on their side: they have not lost to Aston Villa for no less than 8 games (5 wins and 3 draws). Thus, the band from the south of England has not lost on Villa Park for 5 games in a row, and the goals have not been missing from the recent meetings.
They have scored both in 6 of their last 7 direct games, and Southampton have three wins in a row with their rival. The last time was 2-0 on St. Mary’s, last season, when the supremacy of the white-reds was clear. This time, however, we can say that Villa has recovered from the value handicap, and this promises to lead to a match with many goals.
Southampton have two very skilled strikers in Adams and Ings, and the success with Everton and the draw at Chelsea (3-3) gave great confidence to Hasehuttl’s students. Instead, Aston Villa hopes to benefit from the strength and inspiration of Ross Barkley, who adapted perfectly to the team.
On Sunday they can’t play at Aston Villa Hause, Heaton and Wesley, while the guests can’t count on Djenepo, Smallbone and Salisu. All in all, both managers will be able to line up competitive teams at the start, and physical freshness is not at stake here.
From 4th place, Aston Villa dreams with open eyes of a qualification in the European Cups, while Southampton would be happy again to avoid relegation, being now in 8th place. It will not be a boring match this time either!
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Luiz; Trezeguet, Barkley, Grealish; Watkins;
Southampton: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Redmond; Adams, Ings;
Aston Villa have not drawn 8 consecutive stages in the championship (4 victories, 4 defeats);
In 4 of the last 5 direct matches in Birmingham, the result from the break was also the final one;
Aston Villa have not conceded a goal in the first half hour in any of the last 9 matches;
At least two goals have been scored in 5 of Southampton’s last 6 matches;
Southampton have won the last three straight duels, 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2;
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1,52
