Aston Villa-Bournemouth is a match valid for the twenty-eighth day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 4pm: TV, formations, predictions.
The Premier League table, when there are ten days left to play (plus various recoveries), is now divided into two distinct and separate sections.
From twelfth place down they are all involved in a fierce fight not to be relegated, from Crystal Palace to Southampton, between whom there is only a five point difference. Aston Villa, who are eleventh and not too far from that seventh place that could be worth a Conference League pass at the end of the season, have no such problems, although everything will depend on who wins the FA Cup. Unai Emery’s team, however, has emerged with great determination from a negative moment, characterised by three consecutive defeats against Leicester, Manchester City and Arsenal. In their last three outings, the Villans have beaten Everton and Crystal Palace without conceding a goal, and last Sunday they returned with a point from their London trip to West Ham (1-1). They will have to try and raise their level in the next two months if the goal is to conquer Europe, which has always eluded them in recent years despite huge investment from the ownership.
Bournemouth are more alive than ever
The Spanish coach was drafted in for this very reason and the change of pace is evident after his arrival in place of Steven Gerrard last November.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, are by no means out of danger as they are third-last in the table level on points with West Ham and Leicester. Gary O’Neil’s Rossoneri, however, come from a resounding success against Liverpool, who had to surrender a week ago to Billing’s goal (1-0) in the match played at the Vitality Stadium. In short, the Cherries may have less quality than other teams, but they are more alive than ever. And they will certainly sell their skins dearly to try to return home with precious points in their pockets. The prestigious victory against the Reds is a sort of compensation for what Bournemouth had shown in their previous two matches against Manchester City and Arsenal, finding the way to goal on both occasions.
The Prediction
Aston Villa have always scored since Unai Emery came on the bench, while Bournemouth have risen sharply offensively in recent days, piercing the defences of three Premier League giants such as City, Arsenal and Liverpool. The chances of seeing a goalscoring challenge are therefore very high.
Aston Villa-Bournemouth matchday squad
- ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Douglas Luiz; Bailey, Buendia, Ramsey; Watkins.
- BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): Neto; Smith, Stephens, Senesi, Zemura; Anthony, Lerma, Rothwell, Ouattara; Billing; Solanke.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
