Premier League: Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur - Match Preview
Struggling Spurs travel to fifth-placed Villa seeking crucial points to escape relegation zone
En resumen
- Tottenham Hotspur travel to Aston Villa on Saturday evening (7pm BST) in a crucial Premier League clash.
- Spurs, sitting 18th in the relegation zone, have shown improvement under new manager Roberto De Zerbi with four points from the last two matches.
- Villa, fifth-placed and on course for Champions League qualification, are managed by Unai Emery.
Resumen generado por IA
Por qué importa
Tottenham Hotspur are enduring a disastrous season, sitting 18th in the Premier League table with just four matches remaining. The club has gone through three managers this season - Thomas Frank was sacked, replaced by Igor Tudor who was then replaced by Roberto De Zerbi. Aston Villa are fifth-placed and well-positioned for Champions League qualification under Unai Emery.
Team news
Seven changes for Villa: Tyrone Mings, Victor Lindelof, Ian Maatsen, Ross Barkley, Lamare Bogarde, Tammy Abraham, Jadon Sancho all come in, with Emery managing resources before the Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest on Thursday. John McGinn is not in the squad.
Four changes for Spurs: Destiny Udogie, João Palinha, Richarlison, Mathys Tel are introduced by De Zerbi, Palinha having scored the winner against Wolves last time out.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Maatsen, Bogarde, Tielemans, Sancho, Barkley, Rogers, Abraham. Substitutes: Bizot, Buendia, Watkins, Digne, Torres, Garcia, Douglas Luiz, Bailey, Konsa.
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky, Porro, Danso, van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Joao Palhinha, Muani, Gallagher, Tel, Richarlison. Substitutes: Austin, Dragusin, Bissouma, Maddison, Gray, Bergvall,Spence, Sarr, Souza.
Referee: Sam Barrott (West Yorkshire)
Share Preamble
Relegation, for a club of Tottenham's stature, is unthinkable. At least it should be given their resources, history and stature. But a deeply horrible season sees them teetering in 18th place, the third and final relegation spot, with four matches remaining.
It's not all bad news: since taking over from the sacked Igor Tudor – who took over from the sacked Thomas Frank – Roberto De Zerbi has managed to generate four points from the past two matches, having opened his tenure with a 1-0 loss away against Sunderland.
Even better, perhaps, is that West Ham crumbled to a 3-0 loss away at Brentford yesterday, meaning Spurs can overtake the Hammers and climb out of the relegation zone with victory at Aston Villa this evening.
Easier said than done against Unai Emery's fifth-placed Villans, who are well on course for Champions League qualification, but De Zerbi has undoubtedly made a positive impact. Spurs fans will be praying for another uptick.
Kick-off: 7pm BST
Preguntas abiertas
- Will Tottenham secure survival under De Zerbi?
- Can Villa maintain their Champions League charge while managing resources for Europa League?
