Manchester United vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news

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·25 de mayo de 2025

Manchester United vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news

Manchester United welcome Champions League-chasing Aston Villa to Old Trafford this afternoon.

United will be reeling following their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night. Despite falling short, Ruben Amorim is set to remain in charge of the Red Devils.

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The forthcoming summer transfer window will inevitably be punctuated by change, with the futures of Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund uncertain.

Amorim’s choices in defence are limited this afternoon with Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt not expected to be risked. The pair have been nursing injury problems all season and they could join Lisandro Martinez in the stands.

Diogo Dalot and Joshua Zirkzee could be handed starts after they appeared off the bench on Wednesday night.

Aston Villa need to beat United and hope Chelsea or Newcastle falter to earn Champions League qualification.

As it stands, the Villans occupy sixth position but are level on points with the two aforementioned clubs. However, they have a considerably inferior goal difference, which could deny them a spot amongst Europe’s elite.

Marcus Rashford is ineligible to face his parent club, while Youri Tielemans will be assessed after missing the last month with a muscular issue. The Belgian midfielder has been involved in training over the last few days but may find it hard to displace Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara.

Unai Emery has received a boost by the availability of Jacob Ramsey. The English midfielder missed last Friday’s win over Tottenham due to suspension.

Manchester Untied vs Aston Villa – Match Preview and team news

Form

Manchester United: LWLLL

Manchester United’s season has been a catastrophe and the club is in turmoil.

The reception the Red Devils receive at Old Trafford this afternoon could be mixed. Their lowly league position and Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur means Ruben Amorim’s side won’t be competing in Europe for the first time in over a decade next season.

Regardless of the result this afternoon, United have endured their worst Premier League season on record. They could finish as low as 17th position and with just 39 points.

Manchester United haven’t registered a league win in eight matches and form suggests they could be on course for a tenth home defeat this afternoon.

Aston Villa: LLWWW

Aston Villa have ruthlessly gone about their business in the closing stages of the campaign, with three successive league victories.

Fulham, Bournemouth and Tottenham were all swept aside by the Villans, who are determined to return to the Champions League.

Unai Emery will be encouraged by his side’s defensive solidity of late, as their goal hasn’t been breached in three matches.

There are multiple permutations of the final league standings, with Villa’s European competition status hanging in the balance.

If Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest and Newcastle overcome Everton, Aston Villa will be competing in the Europa League next season regardless of their result. If either of those teams fail to win and Villa do, they will qualify for the Champions League.

However, if Forest were to prevail and Villa failed to beat Manchester United, Unai Emery’s side will be competing in the Europa Conference League.

Last Meeting: Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United, Premier League, 6th October 2024

A mundane affair at Villa Park ended goalless between these two sides in October.

Both Aston Villa and Manchester United expended plenty of effort in their European exploits during the week, which resulted in a contest that was bereft of quality.

In the first half, the two sides pitifully tried to break the deadlock. United’s Marcus Rashford, who would be loaned out to Villa a few months later, sent a shot directly at Emiliano Martinez. The hosts responded and fashioned a chance for Morgan Rogers, but the Englishman blazed his powerful effort just wide of the post.

The game followed a similar pattern after the interval, as both teams struggled to control proceedings. Martinez denied Rashford again with a fingertip save before Youri Tielemans forced Andre Onana into action from range.

Rashford was then slightly fortunate not to be sent off by referee Rob Jones. Within minutes of receiving a booking, the winger impeded Leon Bailey with a cynical tackle. The 27-year-old escaped with a stern warning from the official and was taken off by his manager Erik ten Hag almost instantly after the incident.

As the battle approached its closing stages, gaps started to appear. Bruno Fernandes rattled the woodwork from a 25-yard free-kick while Diogo Dalot’s block foiled Jadon Philogene-Bidace. However, neither side could find a winner and the spoils were shared in Birmingham.

A point for United meant the Red Devils had recorded their worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Ten Hag’s side accumulated just eight points from their opening seven matches. The Dutchman was sacked a few weeks later.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Evans, Maguire, Dorgu; Ugarte, Casemiro; Fernandes, Amad, Zirkzee.

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn; Watkins.

Who is the referee?

Thomas Bramall will be the match official. Eddie Smart and Akil Howson will assist him while Anthony Backhouse will be the fourth official. Stuart Attwell will be on VAR duty and Natalie Aspinall will assist him.