Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur preview as both teams come into the game with very different priorities. Aston Villa currently sit sixth and are level on points with Chelsea on 63 points, with two games left in the season, against Spurs and then Manchester United. Two wins will be crucial as they push for that crucial fifth place to try and get into the Champions League for next season.
Spurs will have their eyes fully set on the Europa League final, which is their only hope of getting Champions League football. It will therefore be interesting to see what type of team Ange Postecoglou will play and whether he decides to rest players to keep them fresh or whether he will look to get players in form by giving them time.
These sides have met twice this season. Most recently, they played in the FA Cup fourth round, where Aston Villa won 2-1, starting with a first-minute goal from Jacob Ramsey after the ball slipped through Kinsky, who was in goal that night. Morgan Rogers caused Spurs chaos and made it 2-0 before a late Mathys Tel consolation goal, which was his first goal for Spurs.
When they met in the Premier League in November, there was a shock result by current form as Spurs came away as 4-1 victors. Morgan Rogers put Aston Villa into a 1-0 lead before halftime. Brennan Johnson brought it back level before Dominic Solanke scored a brace, and a late goal from James Maddison from a free kick made the game a demolition by Spurs.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur Head-to-Head record: Last 10 matches
Aston Villa 2-1 Spurs
Spurs 4-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 0-4 Spurs
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 2-1 Spurs
Spurs 0-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 0-4 Spurs
Spurs 2-1 Aston Villa
Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 0-2 Spurs
Aston Villa five wins
Spurs five wins
Matchup Statistics
- Unai Emery has played against Spurs 10 times, winning five, drawing two and losing three. Four of his five wins have come in his six games as Aston Villa manager, while he only won one of his four North London Derbies as Arsenal manager.
- Morgan Rogers has scored two goals and provided one assist in his two matches against Spurs, with a goal and an assist in their cup victory in February.
- Spurs beating Aston Villa last year at Villa Park makes them the last team other than Arsenal to win at Villa Park in the Premier League.
Team Statistics
- Aston Villa have won their last two Premier League games 1-0 against Bournemouth and Fulham and have only lost once at home all season, with that defeat coming in their first home game against Arsenal in August. They have won eight matches at home in a row, last drawing against Liverpool in mid-February.
- Spurs lost their last Premier League match against Crystal Palace and have only five points in their last 10 Premier League games, with the win coming against Southampton at home. They have only one point in their last five away matches with a draw coming against West Ham in their last trip in the Premier League.
- Spurs have lost 20 league games this season, making it the worst season they have ever had in the Premier League, and 11 of those losses have come in the 13 games against teams in the top seven of the league currently.
Player Statistics
- Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa’s leading Premier League goalscorer last weekend when he scored against Bournemouth. This made it four times in the last eight games that he has given Aston Villa a 1-0 lead.
- Morgan Rogers has eight goals and nine assists so far this season, with two goals and five assists in his last 10 matches in all competitions.
- Marco Asensio had a promising start at Aston Villa but has no goal involvements in his last nine matches in all competitions.