(Credit: UEFA Official/Imago)

Go Ahead Eagles vs Aston Villa preview: Team news, line-ups, prediction

Kyrenia will graduate with a Master's in Sports Journalism from St Mary's University, Twickenham in 2025. She spent several months working for the Non-League Paper and has written for the Sports Gazette. She has also produced written content for Connectsport.

Published on:

22 Oct 2025, 5:00 am

Aston Villa could find their trip to the Netherlands in the UEFA Europa League more difficult than first anticipated on Thursday.

Villa are the favourites to win against Go Ahead Eagles on 23 October, as Unai Emery looks to extend his five-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

This comes after Villa were victorious against Tottenham in their own backyard following the international break on Sunday.

While the Villans had a difficult start to the period, Villa's draw to Everton in September breathed life into their season.

Unai Emery holding his thumb up towards Aston Villa fans

Emery is the man of the hour at Villa (Credit: Imago)

Form guide

Aston Villa: W, W, W, W, W

Go Ahead Eagles: L, L, W, D, L

Team News

Ollie Watkins sustained a knock over the international break, but made a cameo in Villa's win over Tottenham in the Premier League.

As a result, Watkins could start for Villa when they take on the Dutch side at the De Adelaarshorst Stadium.

Youri Tielemans has been sidelined for Villa with a calf injury and is not expected to feature in the confrontation. Meanwhile, it is unknown whether Tyrone Mings, who has been out with an ankle injury, will make an appearance on the bench.

Youri Tielemans applauding Aston Villa suppoters.

Tielemans is not set to make an appearance (Credit: Imago)

For the Eredivisie side, forward Soren Tengstedt and defender Pim Saathof are still unavailable and were recently joined by attacker Victor Edvardsen on the sidelines.

Emery will no doubt be devising a plan to curb Go Ahead Eagles striker Milan Smit, who netted a brace in their win over Panathinaikos in the same competition.

Read more: Dutch journalist shares what Villa fans can expect vs minnows Go Ahead Eagles in Europa League

Likey lineups

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Onana, Kamara; Buendia, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins

Go Ahead Eagles: De Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Maulensteen, Breum, Linthorst; Suray, Smit, Margaret

Aston Villa predicted lineup to face Go Ahead Eagles

Watkins could make his return to the starting lineup

Prediction: Go Ahead Eagles 1-3 Aston Villa

Villa should expect a Go Ahead Eagles side who will be difficult to break down during the first half.

However, once the Villans net their first, the goals should keep coming. Indeed, Emery's side have been solid in almost all facets of the game in the competition.

Villa are yet to concede in the Europa League
The Villans miss one big chance on average per game
They create more than one big chance per game, though

As a result, this is a match which will feature goals. But in what will likely be a dominant display, there is the possibility that Villa could become complacent during the game and concede late on.

Therefore, a 3-1 result in favour of the away side seems fair considering all the underlying factors.

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Unai Emery