Unai Emery’s Aston Villa is set to take on Southampton at Villa Park, with a few surprises in the starting lineup. Jhon Duran will be leading the attack instead of Ollie Watkins, alongside supporting players Morgan Rogers and John McGinn. The team also sees the return of Amadou Onana after recovering from a foot injury.
Team News and Lineups
Emery has made four changes from the previous match, with Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, and Jhon Duran stepping in for Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, and Ollie Watkins. The starting XI includes Emi Martinez in goal, a solid defense of Ezri Konsa, Carlos, Torres, and Maatsen, and a midfield featuring Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans. Leon Bailey will be on the right flank, with Rogers and McGinn providing support to Duran upfront.
Head-to-Head Stats
Villa has a strong record against promoted sides under Emery, remaining unbeaten in 11 Premier League fixtures. On the other hand, Southampton has struggled against Villa, losing their last three matches without scoring. However, the Saints have historically performed well against Villa, Everton, and Newcastle, with 16 wins in 42 Premier League meetings.
Southampton’s Challenges
Southampton is facing a tough season, having lost 11 of their first 14 Premier League matches. The team’s recent away form has also been poor, with a winless streak of 14 top-flight games on the road. Despite earning their first away point of the season against Brighton, Russell Martin’s side will need to step up their game to secure a positive result against Villa.
In conclusion, the stage is set for an exciting clash between Aston Villa and Southampton, with both teams eager to secure a crucial victory. How will Emery’s lineup fare against Southampton’s struggling side? Stay tuned for live match updates to find out!
