Aston Villa vs Bournemouth: Possible lineups, team news, and prediction

As the Premier League season edges towards its climax, Aston Villa prepares to host Bournemouth in a pivotal match at Villa Park on April 21, 2024. With a coveted Champions League spot hanging in the balance, Villa's resolve will be tested to its limits.

The Villans have been on a commendable run, recently securing a spot in the Europa Conference League semi-finals after a nail-biting penalty shootout against Lille. However, this victory came at a cost, potentially affecting their readiness for the upcoming domestic fixture due to the physical exertion involved.

Facing a spate of player unavailability, Villa's manager Unai Emery confronts a tactical puzzle. With Alex Moreno sidelined due to a calf injury and Douglas Luiz serving a suspension, the team's line-up will see significant adjustments.

Additional absences include Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendía, Jacob Ramsey, and Boubacar Kamara, all sidelined with injuries. The participation of Nicolò Zaniolo remains a question mark pending a fitness evaluation.

Aston Villa's predicted line-up (4-3-3): Emi Martínez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, Moussa Diaby, Leon Bailey, and Ollie Watkins.

Despite these hurdles, Emery is likely to deploy his favoured 4-3-3 setup. Goalkeeping duties will fall to Emiliano Martínez, shielded by a defensive quartet comprising Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, and Lucas Digne.

The midfield engine will be manned by John McGinn and Youri Tielemans, with Morgan Rogers expected to fill the void left by Luiz.

The front line will see Leon Bailey, Ollie Watkins, and Moussa Diaby looking to breach Bournemouth's defences.

On the other side, Bournemouth, positioned 13th, isn't just going to roll over. The Cherries have been tough competitors in recent outings and are set to challenge Villa's European ambitions.

Their squad, however, is not without its own challenges. Tyler Adams and Chris Mepham are out of action, and Luis Sinisterra joins them on the sidelines after a recent setback.

Possible line-up for Bournemouth (4-4-2): Neto, Adam Smith, Illia Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, Lloyd Kelly, Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook, Antoine Semenyo, Alex Scott, Justin Kluivert, and Dominic Solanke.

Score Prediction

Aston Villa enters the fray as the favourites, bolstered by the support of their home crowd. Yet, Bournemouth has demonstrated their capacity to spring surprises, especially under pressure. The encounter is anticipated to be closely fought, with Villa's urgent push for Champions League qualification potentially tipping the scales in their favour.

Predictions lean towards a 3-1 victory for Aston Villa, underpinned by their robust performances at home and the timely return of key players like Matty Cash. Although Bournemouth's form has been improving, their less impressive away record might prove to be their undoing at Villa Park.