Aston Villa looks to overtake Tottenham in the Europa League spot by returning to winning ways against Fulham at Villa Park.
AVL vs FUL Match Details
Date: Wednesday 26 April 2023
Time: 16:30 (BST), 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
AVL vs FUL Match Preview
After a stunning 3-0 win over top-four chasers Newcastle United at home, Aston Villa stumbled on their visit to Brentford with Douglas Luiz rescuing his side a point with a late equaliser after Ivan Toney gave the home side the lead in the 65th minute. The draw maintained the Villains’ incredible nine-game unbeaten streak, the first time for the club since October 2011, but their five-game winning run came to an end. However, they got the favour from the 6-1 demolition job done by the Magpies on Tottenham that has now opened the gates for them to enter the Europa League spot with a win in midweek over Fulham at home. Separated just by two points from fifth-place Spurs, Unai Emery’s side has the chance to build the pressure with the latter facing another difficult fixture against Manchester United a night after. Considering they have lost only once in the last 18 matches against the Cottagers in Villa Park and won each of their last four Premier League games while keeping a clean sheet here, the home side will be optimistic their current run of form will help them to reach their goal on Wednesday night.
Fulham recovered from their run of five straight defeats in all competitions with two back-to-back wins in the Premier League. Harry Wilson stepped in during the absence of Aleksandar Mitrovic with two goals in his last two games, the latest coming in the 2-1 win over Leeds at Craven Cottage on Saturday. The Liverpool academy graduate scored the opener in the 58th minute before Andreas Perreira scored the supposed winner in the 72nd minute as Joao Palhinha’s own goal shortly after almost robbed them of the victory. Marco Silva’s men presently stand in the ninth position with 45 points having a glimmer of a chance for a European football spot. The gap between them and the fifth spot is currently eight points. To qualify, they need to carry their winning run going and the sides sitting over them needs to fall off drastically which is asking a lot. For now, they will focus on a challenging trip hoping to halt an in-form side with European ambition but having won only two of their last six away matches and without a clean sheet in seven matches.
Recent Form (Premier League)
AVL: DWWWW
FUL: WWLLL
AVL vs FUL Team News
Unai Emery hopes Emiliano Martinez will be ready for the clash with Fulham after being substituted at half-time in the draw against Brentford. Boubacar Kamara (ankle), Leon Bailey (hamstring), Matty Cash (calf) and Phillipe Coutinho (hamstring) all are ruled out. Jed Steer is out for the long term with an ACL injury.
Aleksandar Mitrovic continues to be out for Fulham as he serves the fifth of his eight-game ban after pushing referee Chris Kavanagh with his shoulders during Fulham's FA Cup defeat at Manchester United last month. Decordova-Reid started up-front in the Serbian’s place against Leeds this past weekend but Daniel James is expected to start over him for this one.
AVL vs FUL Predicted Lineups
AVL: Emiliano Martinez; Ashley Young, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Alex Moreno; Leander Dendoncker, Douglas Luiz; John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia, Jacob Ramsey; Ollie Watkins
FUL: Bernd Leno; Kenny Tete, Tosin Adarabioyo, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Harrison Reed, Joao Palhinha; Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira, Willian; Daniel James
AVL vs FUL Head to Head
AVL won - 25
Drawn - 22
FUL won - 26
(In overall meetings)
AVL vs FUL Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: E Martinez (7.5)
DEF: Robinson (7.5), Mings (8), Moreno (8.5)
MID: Wilson (7.5), Luiz (8.5), Pereira (9), Ramsey (9)
FW: D James (7.5), Watkins (9), Willian (9)
Vice-captain: Jacob Ramsey
Captain: Ollie Watkins
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