Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On Friday, May 16, Villa Park in Birmingham will host a Matchday 37 showdown in the English Premier League, as Aston Villa take on London’s Tottenham Hotspur. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:30 Central European Time. Let's break down the odds and pick a winner in this high-stakes clash.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa remain firmly in the hunt for a Champions League spot next season, currently sitting 6th in the table with 63 points—the same tally as Chelsea, though Villa trail on goal difference. The main objective for Unai Emery’s side now is to break into the top five. The race at the top is so tight that just 6 points separate 2nd and 7th place, meaning every round could dramatically reshape the standings.
Having bowed out of other competitions—falling to PSG in the Champions League quarterfinals and exiting the FA Cup at the hands of Crystal Palace with a 0-3 loss in the semifinals—Villa are now able to focus exclusively on the Premier League. In their last two league outings, Villa have notched up back-to-back 1-0 victories: first at home against Fulham, then away at Bournemouth.
Villa’s home form is particularly impressive: they are unbeaten at Villa Park in 20 consecutive matches. However, their record against Tottenham on home turf is less encouraging: just 2 wins in their last 10 home meetings, with the rest ending in defeat.
Tottenham
Tottenham’s season has been nothing short of disappointing. With just two rounds to go, Spurs are languishing in 17th place in the Premier League table, holding 38 points. While relegation isn’t a real threat, it’s far below the expectations set at the start of the campaign.
Despite their lowly position, Tottenham have been surprisingly prolific in attack: 63 goals scored in 36 matches—fifth-best in the league. Defensively, however, it’s a different story, with 59 goals conceded. In their most recent league outing, Spurs let their fans down again, losing 0-2 at home to Crystal Palace.
Still, the North Londoners are trying to make amends for their league struggles with a strong run in the Europa League. The team dispatched Norway’s Bodo/Glimt in the semifinals and have reached the final, where they will face Manchester United for a coveted Champions League berth next season.
Both clubs have endured difficult Premier League campaigns and are now hoping to secure European football via the Europa League. For Tottenham, the main objective is victory in the final, which would open the door to Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Facts and head-to-head
- Aston Villa have won their last 7 home matches.
- The last 4 Aston Villa matches have seen over 3.5 goals scored.
- Tottenham are unbeaten in 3 of their last 4 matches.
- Both teams have scored in 4 of the last 5 head-to-head meetings.
Probable lineups
- Aston Villa: Martinez, Digne, Mings, Cash, Konsa, Onana, Kamara, McGinn, Rogers, Asensio, Watkins.
- Tottenham: Kinski, Davies, Danso, Porro, Spence, Bentancur, Gray, Sarr, Johnson, Son, Odobert.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham match prediction
Given their current form and motivation, Aston Villa enter this clash as clear favorites. The team are fighting hard for a top-five finish, showing consistency and a winning streak, whereas Tottenham have endured a lackluster season and continue to struggle defensively. Despite Spurs’ historically strong results against Villa, this time the Londoners look uninspired and inconsistent, while the Birmingham side, especially at home, are determined to secure all three points. My bet for this match is Aston Villa to win with a -1.5 handicap at odds of 1.96.
