Burnley vs Aston Villa odds and betting statistics
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Burnley vs Aston Villa match preview
This week could hardly have gone much better from an Aston Villa point of view, so will their supporters be celebrating another victory?
First, last Sunday, the Villans got off the mark in the Premier League by hammering Everton 4-0 at Villa Park.
John McGinn broke the deadlock, Douglas Luiz converted a penalty and Leon Bailey lashed home a third before Jhon Durán came off the bench to slot home his first in claret and blue.
Having been hammered 5-1 by Newcastle on the opening weekend, Villa have become just the second team in English top-flight history to start a season by both winning and losing by a 4+ goal margin.
Coincidentally, the other team to have done this are Burnley back in 1925, with the Clarets smashed 10-0 by Aston Villa on the opening day 98 years ago, before demolishing Leicester 4-0 a week later.
In more modern times, on Wednesday night to be precise, Villa featured in UEFA competition for the first time in 13 years, taking on Hibernian in the Europa Conference League play-off round.
Ollie Watkins bagged an historic hat-trick at Easter Road, while Bailey and Luiz were also on target again.
Even with a second leg to come this forthcoming Thursday, Villa can certainly start planning for the group stages, kicking off on 21 September.
Before then, will the Claret and Blue Army run riot again?
In contrast, it’s hard to know just how good Championship champions Burnley are.
The Clarets have only been in action once so far this season, swatted aside 3-0 by Manchester City on the opening Friday night of the campaign.
That was 16 days ago and Vincent Kompany’s team have not been in action since; last weekend’s trip to Kenilworth Road was postponed due to the ongoing refurbishments of Luton’s home stadium.
Thus, Burnley remain somewhat of an unknown quantity, but we’ll learn a lot more about the Clarets’ credentials here.
Aston Villa won their most-recent visit to Turf Moor in May last year, but haven’t claimed back-to-back victories there for 87 years.
Will Unai Emery’s team change that fact?
Burnley team news
Vincent Kompany deployed a rather defensive 5-4-1 against Man City, which is understandable, but he’s likely to revert to a back four this time.
Winger Anass Zaroury will not feature as he begins his three match ban, following a stoppage time red card on the opening weekend.
Aaron Ramsey could make his debut, having arrived from Villa this week, while fellow new recruit Zeki Amdouni will continue to lead the line.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Trafford; Roberts, O’Shea, Al-Dakhil, Vitinho; Cullen, Berge, Brownhill; Koleosho, Foster, Amdouni.
Aston Villa team news
Ollie Watkins will be full of confidence, having become just the fourth Villa player to score a hat-trick in European competition in mid-week.
The others are Gary Shaw (vs Dinamo București, 1982), Peter Withe (vs Vitória de Guimarães, 1983) and Stan Collymore (vs Strømsgodset, 1998).
Unai Emery made just one change for that hammering of Hibs, Diego Carlos coming in for Matty Cash, and consistency will remain key.
Goalkeeper Emi Martínez was taken off at half time in Edinburgh, but is expected to be fit for this one.
Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendía have both suffered long-term injuries this month, while Nicolò Zaniolo could make his debut here, having arrived on loan from Galatasaray.
Predicted XI: (4-3-3): Martínez; Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Douglas Luiz, Kamara, McGinn; Diaby, Watkins, Bailey.
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