Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur: Preview, Team News, Lineups

Aston Villa host relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park with crucial points at stake at both ends of the table.

Match Preview

The hosts are chasing Champions League qualification and currently sit fifth in the Premier League. Unai Emery’s team could guarantee a top-five finish this weekend depending on results elsewhere. They recently suffered a 1-0 defeat to Fulham, which ended their impressive league run. Their confidence took a further hit following a Europa League semi-final first-leg loss at Nottingham Forest. That said, Villa remain formidable at home and are seeking three consecutive league wins at Villa Park.

Tottenham, meanwhile, travel to the Midlands fighting for their top-flight survival. Roberto De Zerbi’s team ended a miserable 15-match winless streak by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. The 1-0 victory offered some respite, but Spurs remain in the relegation zone. They are two points adrift of safety with a challenging schedule ahead. The visitors are averaging more pressed sequences and final-third possession under De Zerbi than previous managers.

Spurs must find a way to navigate an extensive injury crisis that worsened against Wolves. They hope Villa will be distracted by their upcoming European return leg against Nottingham Forest. However, Emery is renowned for successfully juggling domestic and continental commitments throughout his managerial career. His current side have an excellent record following European fixtures this season. Villa also hold a strong recent record against Tottenham, winning their last four meetings across all competitions.

Team News

Aston Villa will be without Amadou Onana after he sustained an injury against Nottingham Forest. Unai Emery confirmed the midfielder requires a scan and is definitely ruled out for Sunday. Boubacar Kamara is the only other known absentee for the hosts. Ross Barkley and Alysson are available for selection having not been registered for the Europa League squad.

Tottenham’s injury nightmare continues as Xavi Simons is sidelined with a season-ending ACL tear. Dominic Solanke is also unavailable after picking up a hamstring issue in the victory over Wolves. De Zerbi revealed the striker will definitely miss this match, but his long-term status remains uncertain. Guglielmo Vicario is still recovering from hernia surgery and is not yet ready to return. However, Destiny Udogie is available and could feature against the Villans. Other major absentees include Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, and Wilson Odobert.

Form

Aston Villa are looking to bounce back from consecutive 1-0 defeats in all competitions. They lost to Fulham in the Premier League before slipping up against Nottingham Forest in Europe. Emery’s men have won only two of their last seven league matches. Despite this, they boast a strong home record and have won 11 league games at Villa Park.

Tottenham secured a vital 1-0 win over Wolves last time out to boost their survival hopes. The victory marked their first Premier League triumph of 2026. De Zerbi’s side have managed four points from their last two games, showing signs of improvement. Only six teams have collected more away points in the league this season than Spurs.

Predicted Lineups

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, Bogarde; McGinn, Rogers, Buendía; Watkins

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Bissouma, Bentancur; Gallagher, Kolo Muani, Tel; Richarlison

Match Details