Unai Emery has unique advantage over Leeds United ahead of Aston Villa clash
Aston Villa take on Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and Unai Emery will fancy his chances against the West Yorkshire outfit.
The Midlands giants have the chance to move within just five points of Arsenal at the top of the table, after the Gunners conceded late on to draw 2-2 with bottom club Wolves.
Emery’s side are more focused on their Champions League push at this moment in time though, so they need three points to cement their place in the top four.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have all picked up some form in recent weeks, so Villa are now very much looking over their shoulder.
Unai Emery boasts 100% record vs Leeds
Leeds come into Saturday’s game as big underdogs, which is no surprise given the league position of the two sides.
However, another factor is that Emery has a 100 per cent winning record against the Whites, having taken all three points on both occasions he has faced them.
Fulham, Burnley and Aston Villa themselves are the only other three clubs that Emery has achieved the same feat against, across his spell at Arsenal and in the Midlands.
Emery was in charge of Villa for both of the wins over Leeds though, the first of which came during his first season at the club.
In the 2022-23 campaign, Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia grabbed the goals as Villa beat Leeds 2-1, with Patrick Bamford scoring a late consolation.
What happened in the reverse fixture?
The other occasion on which Emery got one over Leeds was earlier this season, at Elland Road.
Back in November, Villa beat Daniel Farke’s side 2-1 in West Yorkshire, despite going a goal behind early on.
Lukas Nmecha bundled home in the eighth minute to give the Whites the lead, but Morgan Rogers turned the game around in the second half.
The England international finished superbly with the outside of his left foot just after the half-time break, nipping across the front post and poking a shot into the far corner.
With 15 minutes remaining, Rogers converted a free-kick from the edge of the box, his dipping effort leaving Lucas Perri rooted to the spot.
Villa will hope for a repeat of that outcome this Saturday, as they continue their search for Champions League football next season.
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