Aston Villa is set to host Tottenham Hotspur in a highly anticipated Premier League match that could determine which team will play in the Europa Conference League next season. Both teams experienced a 1-0 defeat in their previous matches, with Villa losing to Wolves, while Spurs emerged victorious against Crystal Palace.
Despite their recent minor blip in form, Villa remains firmly in contention for a spot on the continent, currently sitting eighth in the Premier League table. They will be looking to return to winning ways after back-to-back losses to Manchester United and Wolves. Villa will also be buoyed by their impressive record at Villa Park, where they have secured five straight wins without conceding a goal. Furthermore, Emery’s teams have not gone scoreless in three matches since the 2007-08 season.
Tottenham, on the other hand, find themselves in sixth place and six points adrift of Manchester United. A defeat against Aston Villa could mean the end of their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. However, Spurs are currently on a nine-game scoring run in all tournaments, which could give them a sliver of hope.
Head-to-head, Villa has not won against Spurs at home since 2008. Nevertheless, Spurs’ recent away form may suggest that the hosts have a chance at breaking that run. Tottenham has gone winless in eight successive road matches, making it a bleak prospect for their supporters.
On the team news front, Villa enters the match without any fresh injury concerns, with only Matty Cash and Jed Steer sidelined with calf injuries. Meanwhile, Spurs will have to do without Hugo Lloris (hip), Ryan Sessegnon (thigh), and Rodrigo Bentancur (knee), who are all out for the season.
In conclusion, with both teams looking to secure a place in the Europa Conference League next season, this match promises to be highly competitive. Villa will be looking to maintain their impressive scoring record at home, while Spurs will be desperate to end their winless away run. While Aston Villa has not won against Tottenham at home for over a decade, the Lilywhites’ recent away form suggests it could be a tightly contested match.
