Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Sat 18 April 2026 7:00, UK

Aston Villa are looking to keep up the momentum on Sunday, as they welcome Sunderland to Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s side secured their spot in the Europa League semi-finals in stunning fashion on Thursday, with a 4-0 win against Bologna, having brought a 3-1 lead back from the first leg.

Heading into the extended break, the Villans endured a poor run of form, though they are now back on track as they remain desperate for a Champions League return.

Sunderland were promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs last May, and have adapted to top-flight life seamlessly.

Sitting 10th in the standings, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats will be looking to cause the Champions League chasers problems, as they themselves look to work their way into continental contention.

Form guide

Aston Villa (last six games all comps): WDWWWL

Sunderland (last six games all comps): WWLLWD

Head-to-head

For the first time in almost a decade, the two sides locked horns in a Premier League fixture back in September.

During their impressive run at the start of the campaign, Wilson Isidor would equalise late on for Sunderland as they picked up a 1-1 draw on home soil, with that result in particular being the most common in the fixture’s Premier League history.

The West Midlands outfit just edge it when it comes to the number of wins, though as seen above, Villa and Sunderland have played out 13 league draws since the Wearsiders were first promoted in 1996.

With Sunderland relegated to the Championship in 2017 – a year after Aston Villa – the final fixture between the two ended in a 3-1 Black Cats win, just months before the B6 side would be condemned to the second tier.

Team news and predicted lineups

On the team news front, much remains the same for Emery when it comes to the list of absentees, with only Boubacar Kamara and Alysson making up this list.

However, the Spaniard does have some big choices to make as his side move into the season’s crunch point.

Since returning from the pause, he has remained consistent with his selection, while he avoided the chance to rotate against Bologna on Thursday despite carrying a lead from the trip to Emilia-Romagna.

With this in mind, out-of-form wideman Leon Bailey may be handed one final chance to impress, after faltering since his return from a loan spell with Roma earlier this year.

Alongside Bailey, left-back Ian Maatsen could be deployed out wide, with Lucas Digne having started each clash since the return, while Victor Lindelof could come in for Ezri Konsa for the same reason, after the Swede impressed against Nottingham Forest last time out in the league.

For Sunderland, Le Bris continues without star defender Dan Ballard, who is expected to return later this month after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Former Villa man Bertrand Traore also remains out, alongside January signing Nilson Angulo and Romaine Mundle.

Aston Villa predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Bailey; Watkins

Sunderland predicted XI: Roefs; Mukiele, O’Nien, Alderete, Reinildo; Sadiki, Xhaka; Talbi, Diarra, Le Fee; Brobbey

We say: Aston Villa 3-1 Sunderland

With their Champions League push back on track, Emery’s side are flying once again.

Sunderland have won just four league games on the road this term, establishing Villa as firm favourites at Villa Park.

Combined with the morale-boosting rout of Bologna, the hosts should have more than enough to secure all three points against the Black Cats and strengthen their chances of returning to Europe’s premier competition.