Aston Villa vs Leeds United
Vital points are on offer this weekend in another huge round of top-flight football and no more so than in Birmingham, where high-flying Aston Villa meet relegation-battling Leeds United in a mouth-watering clash.
Both teams desperately need a win, for very different reasons, and here’s a thing; Premier League: Aston Villa vs Leeds United is Villa’s first home 3pm Saturday kick-off in 367 days! As an avid fan myself, this SBOTOP writer has a huge amount of sympathy for the Aston Villa supporters. Saturday afternoon football is what we were raised on and what we live for…but now it has become a rare treat and the home fans will hope their players can deliver; to make it even more special.
Arsenal’s failure to beat bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night not only opened the door to Manchester City at the top of the table, but it also leaves Villa eight points off the top with a game in hand. Leeds United are making a good fist of their survival campaign but they are still in peril, six points above the drop zone. 18th placed West Ham United are on the charge and Nottingham Forest, currently 17th, have changed their manager and will expect a bounce.
Now, Unai Emery has been at pains to say that his team are not title contenders but, believe me, if Arsenal come a cropper in the North London derby this weekend then a win over Leeds could mean Villa can close the gap to two points in due course. The Aston Villa vs Leeds United betting odds say the Clarets will pick up three points on Saturday and then Emery might just take another look at the league table.
The top-flight teams were in FA Cup action last week and Leeds scraped through the fifth round, courtesy of a penalty shootout win away to Championship club Birmingham City. Meanwhile, Aston Villa lost at home to Newcastle United… so they owe their fans.
Talking Points
Can Villa Park become a fortress again?
The Holte End at Aston Villa is one of the most iconic terraces in English football, where Villa’s loudest fans stand, and they can make their home a hostile place for visitors. But they have struggled on home turf of late and Villa needed a boost at home when they met Brighton and Hove Albion last week; which they got thanks to a late own goal courtesy of Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood.
But Emery’s men they failed to follow that up against the Magpies last weekend.
The Premier League title may be just out of the Villans’ reach but a top four place has been theirs for most of the campaign and they will be desperately keen to keep hold of that prize at least, and home form will be crucial. Emery has the players who can deliver, led by the excellent Morgan Rogers, who has scored eight goals and made five assists and with Jadon Sancho and Ollie Watkins in a speedy front line; while wingback Ian Maatsen is growing in stature week on week on the flank.
Right wing back Matty Cash will be assessed on Friday as he has been struggling with a knee niggle.
Leeds will leave nothing on the pitch
Villa know they will have little time to dally on the ball on Saturday as they face one of the league’s fittest and most energetic teams. Leeds are still in a relegation scrap, particularly with the resurgence of West Ham United gathering pace, and you can guarantee Daniel Farke’s players will run until they can run not more. Premier League data reveals that the Yorkshire side has covered more ground than any other in the league this term, with a high pressing and relentless running style, epitomised by the captain Ethan Ampadu, the midfield powerhouse of this team.
Wingback James Justin and forward Brenden Aaronson have covered acres of ground and have pace to burn and even Leeds’ elder statesmen have had no problem in keeping up. Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin arrived at Elland Road with a history of injury problems, but he has stayed fit for much of the campaign, scoring ten goals.
If Leeds do fall short this season…it will not be for lack of energy and effort.
History
The Clarets have had the better of the head-to-head Aston Villa vs Leeds United results with 13 wins to Leeds’ eight and there have been 11 draws, while at Villa Park the tally is eight to five in favour of the hosts, with three draws.
When the two teams met at Elland Road in November a Rogers double gave the Villans a 2-1 victory.
In terms of recent form the hosts have won three, drawn one and lost two of their last six games while Leeds United have won two, drawn three and lost just once.
Betting Tip
With Leeds at odds of 4.62 to win and the Draw at 3.55, this will not be a walkover for Villa and they will have to work as hard as their visitors to earn a victory. But I think they will and for a correct score line, a 2-0 home win is priced at 8.25.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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