Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Sunday when high-flying AFC Bournemouth visit Villa Park. Their supporters will be allowed in regardless of their faith or nationality because they haven’t been deemed a security threat by a robust risk assessment.
Villa defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv in the midst of a political circus on Thursday and while the name of the club and the city continue to be dragged through the mud by bad actors and fake fans, it’s a blessed relief that the match itself is over and done with.
Unai Emery and his players can now focus properly on a Premier League opponent with the ability to compete with them after cruising to a 2-0 win in the Europa League. Nothing about this one will be nearly so easy.
Bournemouth have become a very impressive football club. Villa have a respectable record against them of late but Andoni Iraola’s team are making a success of a smart transfer strategy and tactical plan to punch well above what used to be their weight.
After falling away from the European places last season, the Cherries are having another crack at a first qualification for continental competition and looking good while doing it.
Bournemouth start the weekend in fifth place, three points ahead of Villa and one behind Liverpool in second place.
I grew up in Bournemouth and regularly attended matches at Dean Court in the 1990s. Bournemouth being seven points from the top of the Premier League with a quarter of the season played and nobody being surprised is a remarkable long-term achievement.
Before Emery faces the media on Friday, Villa’s injury list is as short as it’s been all season.
Former Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings is expected to be sidelined until the new year with a hamstring injury, while Andrés García also remains unavailable.
Villa were able to welcome back Emi Buendía and Youri Tielemans against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Both came off the bench to feature in the fourth league phase match in the Europa League on Thursday.
When predicting a Premier League line-up for Villa at the moment, it’s easiest to think about which players Emery is unlikely to leave out.
Four of the back five pick themselves and I’d argue Lucas Digne is as probable a starter as the goalkeeper or anyone else in the back line despite Ian Maatsen getting the nod in the Europa League.
Depth of options in midfield means John McGinn could play in the second attacking line but I’d bet good money he’ll be on the pitch one way or another.
Tielemans is back among those options but Emery can be expected to keep faith with Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana while the Belgium captain builds up his minutes.
It’s a slightly different story for Buendía, who only missed one game with his injury before returning against Maccabi Tel Aviv and plays in a position where Emery doesn’t seem to believe in his alternatives to the same degree.
Villa’s home game against AFC Bournemouth will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports+ in the UK.
Read more ➡️ How to watch Aston Villa v Bournemouth: kick-off time, TV channels and streams
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