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Aston Villa v Leicester
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Kick Off: Saturday 4th January at 15:00
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Competition: Premier League
Aston Villa’s recent form has been inconsistent, with their 2-1 victory over Manchester City standing out as their only win in their last 4 outings. Disappointing defeats to Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, along with a draw against Brighton, have left Unai Emery’s side sitting ninth in the Premier League table, 6 points adrift of Chelsea in fourth place.
On the other hand, Leicester City are struggling under Ruud van Nistelrooy’s leadership. The Foxes have endured 4 successive league defeats, scoring just one goal in the process. Their defensive frailties and lack of attacking output have left them languishing in 19th place, desperately in need of a turnaround.
⭐ Aston Villa v Leicester Best Bet
Leicester’s Boubakary Soumaré has become their primary midfield enforcer, frequently tasked with breaking up opposition attacks. Averaging 1.27 fouls per game, Soumaré has committed at least one foul in his last 5 matches, with 3 fouls recorded in 2 of those fixtures.
Aston Villa’s high-intensity, attacking style often forces opposing players into mistakes, as reflected in their league-leading average of 12.63 fouls won per game. With players like John McGinn and Ollie Watkins driving Villa’s forward momentum, Soumaré will likely face continuous pressure, leading to an increased foul count.
🟢 Aston Villa v Leicester #WhatOddsPaddy Tip
Ollie Watkins is in red-hot form, netting 3 goals in his last 3 starts, and with Duran and Rodgers unavailable, he’s set to lead the line against Leicester. Watkins has been relentless in his attacking output, registering 6 shots with 3 on target in his last game and averaging 1.48 shots on target per match this season. His sharp finishing, combined with Leicester’s defensive struggles, makes him a prime candidate to open the scoring.
On the other hand, Boubakary Soumare’s recent disciplinary record makes him a strong pick for the first booking. The Leicester midfielder has been carded in 4 of his last 5 matches, consistently committing fouls to break up play. He’s tallied 3 fouls on two separate occasions during this run, underlining his tendency to play on the edge. At odds of 13, this bet offers strong value.
👕 Aston Villa v Leicester Predicted XI
🔍 Aston Villa v Leicester Players to Watch
🔵 Boubakary Soumare
Soumaré’s physical approach has been a double-edged sword for Leicester this season. Averaging 1.27 fouls per game, he’s been one of their most active midfielders in disrupting opposition play.
Over his last 5 matches, Soumaré has committed a foul in every game and recorded 3 fouls on two occasions. His aggressive style has also resulted in 4 yellow cards in the same period. Aston Villa’s attacking philosophy and ability to win fouls make this a particularly challenging fixture for Soumaré.
Given referee Jarred Gillett’s recent trend of awarding cards (6.8 cards per game over his last 5), Soumaré could find himself walking a disciplinary tightrope.
🟣 Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins is expected to lead Villa’s attack in the absence of John Duran and Morgan Rogers. Watkins has been in fine form, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists in his last 3 starts. His ability to deliver in crucial moments makes him a key asset in Villa’s push for European football.
Against a Leicester defence that has conceded 35 shots on target in their last 7 matches, Watkins will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact. He’s averaged 1.48 shots on target per game this season and registered 6 shots against Brighton, 3 of which were on target.
📂 Aston Villa v Leicester Cheat Sheet
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💻 Aston Villa v Leicester Form and Tactics
Aston Villa’s superiority over Leicester is evident in the numbers.
Villa boast a better attacking output, averaging 1.48 goals per game compared to Leicester’s 1.27. They also take more shots (13 to 9.86), hit the target more frequently (4.44 to 3.55), and win significantly more corners (5.85 to 3.64).
Villa’s possession-based style contrasts with Leicester’s long-ball approach, and Leicester’s struggles are compounded by their disciplinary record, averaging 2.27 cards per game despite committing fewer fouls (10.41 to Villa’s 11.33).
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🏁 Aston Villa v Leicester Ref Watch
- Referee: Jarred Gillett
- Gillett has distributed a massive 34 cards in his last 5 Premier League matches, an average of 6.8 cards per game.
- He has shown 3 penalties in his last 10 matches.
- There has been an average of 23.8 fouls per game during his last 10 games.
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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
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