Match Preview: Brentford v Aston Villa – Can Villa continue stunning top four push?

Villa look for a third league win in a row after the high of beating Manchester City and Arsenal. Here’s everything you need to know prior to kick-off!

The Build-Up

Aston Villa’s incredible season will continue when they visit Thomas Frank’s Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The team led by Unai Emery is coming off of a historic week that has made them reassess their goals for the season.

Thanks to goals from Leon Bailey and John McGinn, Villa Park defeated Manchester City and Arsenal back-to-back, moving them above Pep Guardiola’s team and into third place, two points behind leaders Liverpool.

Villa could be in a position to be at the top of the table at Christmas with a sizable cushion to fifth, should the next few results go their way. Initially, they would have hoped to break through the glass ceiling of the top five and have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

While the fans are free to dream, Emery and the team will focus on winning one game at a time, and Brentford will present a challenging challenge as they attempt to keep pushing for the top spot in the league.

On Thursday, Villa sealed their progression to the last-16 of the Europa Conference League as winners of Group E as they drew 1-1 away at Zrinjski Mostar, with Nicolo Zaniolo claiming his first goal in Claret and Blue. The Italian will be hoping that the goal will kickstart his Villa career.

But Villa isn’t exactly a joyful hunting ground; they have lost all seven of their visits to West London, and their one triumph there was in the FA Cup in 1953. If they win at the Gtech Community Stadium for the first time, they will solidify their place in the top four and could even take the lead if Liverpool and Arsenal lose ground.

In their run towards the top seven, Villa emerged victorious from the identical encounter the previous season, thanks to a last-minute goal from Douglas Luiz that preserved a point after Ivan Toney had given the hosts the lead early in the second half. On Sunday, neither of those players will be active.

The Bees, led by Thomas Frank, enter the match on Sunday having lost their previous two games and having only won twice in their previous six games. James McAtee’s incredible goal against Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United gave Brentford a 1-0 away loss in previous game. They were two points outside of the top half in 11th place after that outcome.

Team News

Important midfielder Luiz and left-back Lucas Digne will miss Villa’s trip to West London after receiving their fifth bookings of the season against Arsenal. Unai Emery stated on Friday that Bailey and Youri Tielemans are both questionable for fitness as Villa’s early-season schedule gets increasingly packed. After making an impression in recent weeks, Bailey and Tielemans should be able to maintain their spots on the team if they are healthy. If not, Moussa Diaby and maybe even Leander Dendoncker will be in attendance.

Diego Carlos might make a return to the starting lineup against Mostar after being rested. After their respective games against Mostar on Thursday, Álex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey are expected to make their first domestic starts of the year.

Due to a muscular ailment, Bertrand Traore is also sidelined for Villa, while Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia are also out with ACL injuries.

In addition, Bryan Mbeumo, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Kevin Schade, Kristoffer Ajer, Jay Dasilva, Nathan Collins, and Mathias Jensen are all out for Brentford’s match against Villa due to injuries to their knees, thighs, ankles, and hips, respectively. Because Toney broke the betting regulations, he is still barred.

Diego Carlos might make a return to the starting lineup against Mostar after being rested. After their respective games against Mostar on Thursday, Álex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey are expected to make their first domestic starts of the year.

Due to a muscular ailment, Bertrand Traore is also sidelined for Villa, while Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia are also out with ACL injuries.

In addition, Bryan Mbeumo, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Kevin Schade, Kristoffer Ajer, Jay Dasilva, Nathan Collins, and Mathias Jensen are all out for Brentford’s match against Villa due to injuries to their knees, thighs, ankles, and hips, respectively. Because Toney broke the betting regulations, he is still barred.

Likely Lineups

Brentford (4-3-3)

Flekken; Ghoddos, Mee, Pinnock, Janelt; Onyeka, Norgaard, Baptiste; Lewis-Potter, Maupay, Wissa

Aston Villa (4-2-2-2)

Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Pau, Moreno; Kamara, Tielemans; Ramsey, McGinn; Watkins, Diaby

Score Prediction

Given their excellent recent form and Brentford’s injury crisis, Villa will be confident of continuing their charge up the Premier League and claiming their fifth league win in six matches and shoring up their position in the top four in the process.

A third consecutive league clean sheet could even be on the cards given that Brentford are without three of their main attacking players in Mbeumo, Schade, and Toney.

Prediction: Brentford 0 Aston Villa 2