Aston Villa vs Bournemouth preview: Team news, lineups, prediction
Unai Emery will look to bounce back in the Premier League with a win over Bournemouth at Villa Park on Sunday.
Aston Villa suffered a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield last Saturday in what was a difficult match to navigate.
Villa responded with a 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
However, Emery will want to continue his winning ways when Villa welcome Andoni Iraola’s side on 9 November.
Form guide
Aston Villa: W, L, W, L, W
Bournemouth: D, W, D, W, L
Team News
Youri Tielemans returned for Villa in their win over Maccabi Tel Aviv with a substitute performance which made it seem like he’d never left.
Emi Buendia also had a few minutes in the Europa League after he was sidelined for the Villans’ defeat to Liverpool.
This comes after the versatile attacker was spotted on crutches after he was replaced by Jadon Sancho due to injury against Manchester City.
As a result, both Buendia and Tielemans could start for Villa in a move which would see Amadou Onana and Sancho return to the bench.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Mings and Andres Garcia remained sidelined for Villa, and Harvey Elliot is not expected to make an appearance.
As for Bournemouth, Tyler Adams is a doubt to start the game after suffering a minor knock to his knee against Man City.
Likely lineups
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Doak; Tavernier, Brooks, Semenyo; Kroupi
Prediction: Villa 2-2 Bournemouth
Bournemouth’s 3-1 defeat to Man City highlighted that teams can harm the Cherries if they set out correctly.
Indeed, Erling Haaland terrorised their defence:
- The striker netted a brace
- He took six shots and four were on target
- Haaland made two passes into the final third
The Citizens took advantage of the fact that Bournemouth’s defence would creep forward when in possession by winning the ball back in the midfield and sending Haaland in behind the defence.
It was a tactic that provided them with ample opportunities and something Emery could adopt when he faces them on Sunday.
However, the Cherries are fifth in the league for a reason, which is why Villa News predicts a 2-2 draw as the logical outcome for two teams desperate to seal all three points.
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