Preview: Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace – prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams that were happy to see international football intervene will return from a much-needed break on Saturday, which Aston Villa and Crystal Palace meet at Villa Park.

The hosts lost four games on the bounce before the club competition was suspended, while their visitors have won just once Premier League this season.

Match preview

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After 1,026 games as a manager, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery lost four games in a row for the first time as his ailing side ran out of steam heading into the final international break in 2024.

A dismal run that started with last month’s EFL Cup defeat to Crystal Palace has seen Villa lose their perfect record in the Champions League and slip to ninth in the The Premier League table.

Last time out was the Birmingham club beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at Anfield, continuing their 24-year run of failures away to top-two opposition.

Despite going five games without a win, Emery’s men are still relatively well placed in the top flight and in Europeso they will be hoping to get back on track this weekend, ahead of a visit from Italian giants Juventus.

With just four points separating third from 13th in the Premier League pecking order, a rebound in form could soon put the Villans back in contention for another top-four finish.

So, having lost just one of 12 Premier League home games against Crystal Palace to date – by just six goals in total – history will be firmly on their side when the Eagles land at Villa Park.

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After their resounding 5-0 win over Aston Villa on the final day of last term, Palace are now looking to win successive league meetings with their second-city counterparts for the first time in a decade.

However, the away side have only won three of 24 Premier League meetings between the teams so far, with the London club’s only win at Villa Park coming back in December 2013.

More relevant, Oliver Glasners team went to break on the back of another defeat, lost 2-0 at home to Fulhamand are in correspondingly grim shape for their hosts.

It came as a bitter blow as they had previously strung together a three-game unbeaten run: securing their first league win of the season against Tottenham Hotspur, beating Villa in the last 16 of the EFL Cup and then rescuing a point away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As a result of their latest setback, Palace have recorded just seven points this season – only twice before have they earned fewer at this stage of a Premier League campaign – and are mired in the relegation zone.

Glasner’s position has inevitably been called into question during a week’s downtime, but the Austrian coach – who has won both of his previous matches with Emery – remains in post for now.

Aston Villa Premier League form:

Aston Villa form (all competitions):

Crystal Palace Premier League form:

Crystal Palace form (all competitions):

Team news

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Aston Villa’s absentee list has grown again of late, as Jacob Ramsey was withdrawn against Liverpool and Amadou Onana pulled out of Belgium’s second UEFA Nations League game with a foot injury.

Boubacar Kamara struggling with a hamstring problem while defensive duo Ezri Konsa (hip) and Pau Torres (muscular) was also sent home early from international duty – although the latter may yet be available to join the returning right-back Matty Cash in the hosts’ squad.

Villa captain John McGinn ended a long goal drought by scoring two in two for Scotland while the left back Lucas Digne scored three goals as he earned his 50th cap for France; both were due to start on Saturday along with the England striker Ollie Watkinswho scored for the Three Lions against Greece.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace will be missing Daichi Kamadaas the former Lazio midfielder is suspended after being sent off for a high tackle against Fulham. So have the Eagles Adam Wharton sidelined due to injury, but Eberechi Eze, Jefferson Lerma and Chad Riad hope everyone will return.

After Oliver Glasner paired captain and centre-back Marc Guehi with Premier League debutant Justin Devenny on the midfield last time, it therefore remains to be seen how the visitors’ engine room will be put together at the weekend.

Sure to start up front, French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored his most league goals (four) and registered his joint-most assists (two) against Aston Villa, after scoring a hat-trick in last term’s 5-0 win.

Aston Villa’s possible starting line-up:
Martinez; Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Barkley, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins

Crystal Palace possible starting line-up:
Henderson; Chalobah, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Doucoure, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Schlupp; Mateta

We say: Aston Villa 2-0 Crystal Palace

After taking a short break from the day-to-day grind, Aston Villa should return to the Premier League feeling suitably refreshed.

With Crystal Palace picking up just two points away from home so far, it will be a bonus to take something back to the capital on Saturday night.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, please click here.

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