Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace: Football Previews & Free Football Betting Tips
Aston Villa host Crystal Palace at Villa Park on 31 August 2025 — a useful early-season temperature check. Villa are still searching for their first league win (and first league goal) of 2025/26, while Palace arrive on the back of a disciplined, unbeaten run and a midweek European away day. Expect a noisy Villa Park with a healthy away following; both sides have strong reasons to lay down a marker before the international break.
On the pitch, this shapes as 4-2-3-1 vs 4-4-2/4-2-3-1. Villa’s plan typically revolves around structured build-up, full-backs stepping infield and quick service into Watkins with runners from the line (Rogers/Malen). Palace under a compact, counter-punching blueprint are happy to defend in numbers, use Wharton/Lerma to screen and then release pace wide for Mateta to attack the box. It’s control versus incision.
Aston Villa
- Out: Boubacar Kamara (injury), Andrés García (injury).
- Doubts: Amadou Onana (hamstring, late test), Ross Barkley (fitness).
- Likely roles: Ollie Watkins leads the line; width from Donyell Malen/Morgan Rogers; Youri Tielemans expected to orchestrate with support from a young partner if Onana sits out.
Crystal Palace
- Out: Cheick Doucouré (knee, long-term), Chadi Riad (knee), possible short-term knock issues being managed.
- Doubts: Eddie Nketiah (hamstring recovery), Chris Richards (ankle), Will Hughes (to be assessed). Marc Guéhi expected to be available despite transfer noise.
- Likely roles: Jean-Philippe Mateta spearheads; Adam Wharton & Jefferson Lerma screen; new arrival Yeremy Pino could add directness from wide if involved.
All players named are registered with their clubs as of the preview date.
Aston Villa (last 10 competitive): 0–3–7. Goals: 7 for, 23 against (0.7 scored / 2.3 conceded per game). 1 clean sheet. Trend-wise, Villa have struggled to convert territory into chances, and have been vulnerable once games become stretched.
Crystal Palace (last 10 competitive): 6–4–0. Goals: 19 for, 4 against (1.9 scored / 0.4 conceded per game). 7 clean sheets. Palace are hard to open up and carry a measured threat in transition.
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| Metric (last-10 sample unless stated) | Aston Villa | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Goals Scored per Game | 0.70 | 1.90 |
| Avg Goals Conceded per Game | 2.30 | 0.40 |
| Clean Sheet % | 10% | 70% |
| Average Points per Game | 0.30 | 2.20 |
| Average Possession (season to date) | ~58.5% | ~35.5% |
Villa at home (recent sample)
0W–2D–3L from the most recent five at Villa Park, scoring 3 and conceding 10; 1/5 clean sheets. They’ve tended to start solidly but fade if the first goal doesn’t arrive.
Palace away (recent sample incl. Europe)
2W–2D–0L from their last four away days, goals 4–1 with 3 clean sheets. Compact block, efficient counters, strong set-piece defending.
Goals Against
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Aston Villa – Ollie Watkins: The focal point and best route to breaking the mini-drought. His channel runs can drag Lacroix/Guéhi into uncomfortable spots if service is quick and early.
Crystal Palace – Adam Wharton: Sets the tempo and funnels counters with smart first passes. If he controls the middle, Palace’s transitions bite harder.
2–1 Aston Villa. Home urgency and Villa’s superior share of the ball tilt it slightly. Set-plays and a Watkins moment could be decisive, even against a very well-drilled Palace defence.
Main Pick: Villa to win. Villa need to force the issue.
Value Play: Ollie Watkins — Anytime Scorer. Central to everything Villa create and on a high share of their quality chances.
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