After a frustrating midweek Europa League loss, Aston Villa look to bounce back as they host a desperate Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park this Sunday. The stage is set for a Premier League clash with serious implications at both ends of the table.
Match Details:
- Kickoff: 2:00 PM ET Sunday
- Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
- TV Channel: USA Network
- Streaming: Available on USA Network platforms
Villa enter this match still smarting from a 1-0 first-leg semifinal defeat at Nottingham Forest on Thursday, a result that left manager Unai Emery fuming over several VAR decisions. However, the Midlands club has found solid footing in the Premier League, sitting eight points clear of sixth-place Brighton in the race for Champions League qualification. That cushion gives Emery the freedom to experiment with his lineup and tactics as he prepares for the second leg.
On the other side, Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi faces a far more precarious situation. Tottenham head into Week 35 in 18th place—the relegation zone—two points behind West Ham, five behind Forest, and six adrift of safety. A win is essential to keep pressure on the teams above them and avoid the unthinkable drop to the Championship.
Team News:
Aston Villa: Out—Boubacar Kamara (knee), Alysson (unspecified). Questionable—Amadou Onana (knee).
Tottenham: Out—Xavi Simons (ACL), Cristian Romero (knee), Mohammed Kudus (groin), Wilson Odobert (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Ben Davies (ankle). Questionable—Guglielmo Vicario (groin), Destiny Udogie (muscular), Pape Matar Sarr (shoulder), Dominic Solanke (thigh).
Projected Lineups:
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans, Barkley; Sancho, Rogers, Abraham
Tottenham: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha, Gallagher; Kolo Muani, Tel, Richarlison
With Spurs missing a host of key players due to injury, Villa Park remains a daunting venue—even for a weary home side. This one could go either way, and while a draw won't lift Spurs out of the bottom three, they might gladly settle for it. Our prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur.
Stay tuned for live updates, analysis, and highlights throughout the match.