Aston Villa – West Ham
Our Aston Villa – West Ham betting tip is: More goals in 2nd half – 2.05 odds
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- Aston Villa under 1.5 goals in the first half in the last 5 games
- West Ham low first-half scoring rate
- Neither won the last game
Next Sunday, Aston Villa will host crisis-stricken 14th-place West Ham United at Villa Park. Interestingly, this is a clash between two teams that have both suffered defeats recently – Villa lost 1-0 to AS Monaco during the week, while the Hammers were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace last weekend. Find out who will redeem themselves in our Aston Villa – West Ham tip.
The form of both teams could hardly be more different. While Unai Emery’s team has 36 points in 8th place and is only one point behind Bournemouth, West Ham is stuck in the lower midfield with just 26 points. One might wonder whether the Londoners’ recently announced £50 million bid for Villa striker John Duran will further fuel the mood ahead of this direct clash.
Aston Villa – West Ham Info
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- Stadium: Villa Park, Birmingham
- Date and time: 26/01/2025, 17:30
- Competition: Premier League, Matchday 23
- Broadcast: Sky
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Aston Villa form & record check
Aston Villa are currently going through an interesting phase, which can certainly be viewed in two conflicting ways. After three consecutive wins, including an important 1-0 away win over Everton and a remarkable 2-2 draw at Arsenal, Unai Emery’s team recently suffered a 1-0 defeat in Monaco in the Champions League. A curious pattern is particularly striking: Villa find it extremely difficult to score in the first 45 minutes.
Will Aston Villa stay in the hunt?
What particularly sets this team apart is their strength in the second halves – an 80% ratio of second-half wins speaks for itself. Currently lying in 8th place in the table, just one point behind Bournemouth, Villa are well within striking distance of the European places. You might think that Emery’s tactical adjustments at half-time are the key to success.
Interestingly, Villa have scored in 80% of their last matches, but have also conceded in just as many games – a sign of a bold but risky style of play. It remains to be seen whether the team will maintain this attacking approach in the coming weeks, especially in light of their recent defeat in the Premier League.
Aston Villa facts & analysis
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- 8th in the table
- Unbeaten in the Premier League for four games
- First leg went 2-1 to Aston Villa
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Based on available information, Aston Villa could field a 4-2-3-1 system against West Ham. Martinez will be in goal as usual. The back four will be Cash, Konsa, Mings, and Digne. Kamara and Tielemans are expected to play in defensive midfield. Bailey is likely to take the right wing position, while Rogers plays on the left. Buendia is expected in the central offensive position. Watkins will take the forward role as a striker.
It is also reported that Barkley continues to be out due to calf problems, while Onana could possibly return to the squad after an injury.
West Ham Form & Record Check
West Ham are currently going through a worrying phase, marked by four defeats in their last five games. Particularly alarming was the recent 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, in which the team not only lost the game but also Konstantinos Mavropanos to a red card. The “Hammers’” defense is showing blatant weaknesses – in the last five games, they have conceded a whopping 14 goals.
Bird game in the back!
Interestingly, the only bright spot in this gloomy period came in the form of a narrow 3-2 home victory over Fulham. But this success could not hide the fundamental problems: the team appears unstable defensively and regularly suffers lapses, especially in the second half.
One might think that the recent transfer efforts to sign Aston Villa’s John Duran for over £50 million show a willingness to change. However, internal unrest, such as speculation about the future of technical director Tim Steidten, does not exactly help to stabilize the situation. It remains to be seen whether the team can turn things around under this pressure.
West Ham facts & analysis
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- Table position: 14
- One win and four losses from the last five games
- 43 goals conceded from 22 Premier League games
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West Ham face a number of personnel challenges for the away game at Aston Villa. Coach Graham Potter is expected to stick with the proven 3-4-2-1 system, although several injuries and suspensions are affecting the team.
Injuries include Bowen with a broken leg and Füllkrug with a leg injury, which weakens the offense. Due to Mavropanos’ suspension, a change in the defensive line-up may be necessary.