Aston Villa vs Brentford Preview

In the upcoming Premier League clash on Wednesday, Aston Villa will be hoping to get back to winning ways as they host Brentford at Villa Park. With both teams facing differing fortunes, this match promises to be critical for their respective aspirations in the league.

Recent Form

Aston Villa's situation has dramatically shifted, as they have only managed one win in their last eight Premier League matches, placing them in 12th position. Their last outing saw them suffer a heavy defeat to Chelsea, leading many to question Unai Emery's tactical approach and the team's ability to compete at this level. The Villans have also struggled in the UEFA Champions League, but they aim to turn the tide with a strong performance against the Bees.

Brentford, on the other hand, is in a better state overall, riding high on form after a recent 4-1 victory over Leicester City. However, their away form has been a significant concern, as they hold the joint-worst points tally on the road this season. As the Bees prepare for this clash, they look to maintain their impressive home record, which contrasts sharply with their struggles away from home.

Team News

Aston Villa

Aston Villa faces a difficult challenge with injuries piling up in their squad. Talismatic goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is sidelined following a hand injury suffered against Chelsea, which means Robin Olsen will likely take his place in the starting XI. Midfielders Jacob Ramsey (hamstring) and potentially Amadou Onana will also be unavailable, impacting the team's structure.

The probable starting lineup for Aston Villa looks as follows:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Goalkeeper: Olsen
• Defenders: Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen
• Midfielders: Barkley, Tielemans
• Forwards: Bailey, Rogers, McGinn, Watkins

Brentford

Brentford manager Thomas Frank will have to cope without several key players. The absence of Mathias Jensen (hamstring) is an additional concern alongside injuries to Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Kristoffer Ajer, Gustavo Nunes, and Josh Dasilva. Nevertheless, after scoring a hat-trick in their previous match, Kevin Schade will be leading the line for the Bees.

The Bees are expected to lineup as:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Goalkeeper: Flekken
• Defenders: van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter
• Midfielders: Janelt, Norgaard
• Forwards: Damsgaard, Mbeumo, Schade, Wissa

Statistics and Head-to-Head

Historically, Aston Villa holds an upper hand in this fixture, being unbeaten in their last four matches against Brentford (W2 D2) after a difficult stretch where they went winless in eight. Additionally, the Bees have never won an away game against Aston Villa, contributing to the psychological edge that Villa might carry into the game.

Key stats include:

• Aston Villa has not kept a clean sheet in six Premier League meetings with Brentford.
• Aston Villa has lost only one of their last 11 Premier League home games (W4 D6).
• Brentford has won more points at home than any other team this season but struggles continuously on the road.

Predictions

As both teams seek to address their shortcomings, a high-scoring affair could be anticipated given the defensive vulnerabilities displayed by both sides recently. Predictions from analysts suggest a potential draw. The Hard Tackle foresees a 2-2 stalemate, reflecting the attacking talent present while accounting for defensive frailties.

Final Thoughts

With both Aston Villa and Brentford in need of a result, the Premier League clash on Wednesday promises to be an enthralling contest filled with excitement. Can Aston Villa turn their fortunes around against an away-struggling Brentford? The stakes couldn't be higher as both teams aim to set the tone for the weeks ahead.