The international break has provided Fulham with a much-needed breather following their thrilling yet heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against Premier League champions Manchester City. Before that loss, Fulham had shown impressive resilience, with a string of victories and draws that have kept them firmly in the top half of the table. Marco Silva’s men now find themselves sitting in eighth place, with 11 points from their efforts so far this season.
Fulham’s home form has been particularly strong, with two wins and a draw from their three matches at Craven Cottage. However, a late equalizer from West Ham’s Danny Ings in stoppage time denied them a perfect home record. As they prepare to host Aston Villa, the Cottagers will be determined to leverage their home advantage and end their recent losing streak in head-to-head encounters with Villa. They’ve lost their last three Premier League games against Unai Emery’s men, and getting a win here could see them leapfrog Villa in the standings.
Villa’s Top-Four Ambition
Aston Villa, on the other hand, will be eager to extend their winning run over Fulham and climb further up the Premier League table. A win at Craven Cottage would not only make it four consecutive league victories over Fulham but also help them push into the top four, at least temporarily. Villa’s defensive efforts were commendable in their last game, a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Manchester United. That was their first Premier League clean sheet in 12 games—a stat they’ll want to build on as they head to London.
Despite their struggles to keep clean sheets this season, Villa have been strong on the road, losing just one of their last 12 top-flight trips to London (W8, D3). Their sturdy defense and dangerous attack, led by Ollie Watkins, make them a tough side to beat.
Players to Watch
Fulham, all eyes will be on Rodrigo Muniz, who found the back of the net against Manchester City before the break. Seven of his previous eight goals have been scored at home, including one in last season’s clash against Villa. Fulham will be counting on him to deliver again.
Ollie Watkins will be Villa’s key player to watch. He has a remarkable record against Fulham, scoring five goals in his career against them, four of which came in the second half. His ability to find the net in key moments could be crucial in this game.
Key Stats and Prediction
The team that scores first has gone on to win in 13 of the last 14 meetings between these sides. This makes the first goal crucial in what promises to be a tight encounter.
Given Villa’s excellent form on the road and their dominance over Fulham in recent meetings, we predict a narrow victory for Unai Emery’s side. However, Fulham’s strong home performances mean they’ll be tough to break down, making this a hard-fought game. We’re going for a 2-1 win for Aston Villa, with Watkins likely to be the difference again.
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With Villa pushing for a top-four finish and Fulham aiming to reclaim their home dominance, this matchup promises to be an exciting clash. Stay tuned and enjoy the action!
