With seven games without defeat, Tottenham welcomes an in-form Aston Villa side on Sunday, which is itself unbeaten in five games. The hosts are sitting in third place in the table with 14 points, but are struggling with massive personnel problems: Solanke, Maddison, Kulusevski, and Bissouma are all missing. Villa, currently in 13th place with nine points, won the last league match in May 2-0 and could benefit from Tottenham’s poor home record, which is the worst in the league with only 13 points from their last 17 home games. At least three goals have been scored in each of the last five head-to-head matches, suggesting an open game.
- Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
- Date and time: October 19, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 8)
Despite personnel concerns, bookmakers see Tottenham as the favorite with odds of 2.0, while Villa’s impressive run of four wins and one draw in their last five games makes them good value in the underdog markets. Both teams have scored at least three goals in 80 percent of their last five games, making bets on over 2.5 goals attractive. The double chance X2 is a good option given Tottenham’s poor home form and Villa’s momentum. “Both teams to score” also seems logical, as Tottenham have conceded in four of their last five games and Villa have scored in every game of their run. A draw offers odds of around 3.5. Moderate stakes of one to three percent of the betting budget are recommended. This assessment is based on available information and does not guarantee a win.
Tottenham form & record check
The Spurs are looking fragile in third place. Two wins and three draws in their last five competitive games mask their real problems. The underlying figures are alarming: Tottenham are outperforming their expected goals both offensively and defensively, which suggests an unsustainable points haul. The 2-1 win at Leeds was deserved but not dominant, the 2-2 draw at Bodø/Glimt revealed a loss of control against supposedly weaker opponents, and the draws against Wolves and Brighton followed the familiar pattern: goals scored, but defensively too open. The 3-0 cup win against Doncaster is not a good benchmark. With Solanke’s continued absence, Kolo Muani’s possible return to the team after injury, and the long-term absences of Bissouma, Kulusevski, and Maddison, the squad lacks the necessary stability. Players such as Odobert, Tel, and Simons have shown promise, but need to be more consistent. Thomas Frank is calling for more support from the fans, but first the team must prioritize defensive compactness and be more reliable, especially from set pieces.
Thomas Frank has to compensate for seven absences, including Kulusevski and Maddison, who are not registered for the Champions League. Solanke is still out after his ankle operation, while Kolo Muani could return after recovering from a muscle bruise. In the expected 4-2-3-1 system, Richarlison is likely to play as the lone striker, supported by Simons as playmaker. Kudus, who has already provided four assists this season, is expected to occupy the wing. In midfield, Palhinha and Sarr are expected to provide stability as a double six, while the back four is likely to remain unchanged with Romero and van de Ven in central defense.
Aston Villa Form & Record Check
Since the draw at Sunderland at the end of September, Aston Villa has been in impressive form, going four games unbeaten. The narrow Europa League wins against Bologna and Feyenoord, as well as the league victories against Fulham (3-1) and Burnley (2-1), in which Malen scored twice, underline the team’s renewed stability. Villa’s defensive performance is remarkable: in four of their last five games, the team has kept a clean sheet at halftime, while regularly scoring goals in the second half. Their recent unbeaten run after international breaks could prove to be a psychological advantage. Villa are 13th in the table with nine points, level on points with Brighton and one point ahead of Fulham. The league record of two wins, three draws, and two defeats still reflects the bumpy start to the season, which Unai Emery is gradually correcting. Tielemans is still out with calf problems and is expected to return in early November. Barkley is suspended for the Europa League but is available for the Premier League. Goalkeeper Martínez trained regularly despite recovering from calf problems and played two international matches, so he should be fit to play.
Unai Emery is expected to stick with his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 system. Martínez returns in goal after overcoming calf problems and making two appearances for Argentina. As expected, Cash, Konsa, Torres, and Digne form the defense, while Kamara and Onana play as double sixes. In attacking midfield, Malen could start on the right, McGinn on the left and Rogers behind striker Watkins. Sancho, Buendía and Elliott are notable alternatives on the bench. Tielemans remains sidelined with calf problems, while Barkley is ineligible for the Europa League. Emery will make minor tactical adjustments to the starting lineup despite maintaining continuity.
Tottenham – Aston Villa Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The recent history between the two teams promises spectacle: all of the last five encounters have seen at least three goals scored, without a single draw. Villa triumphed 2-0 in May 2025 and 2-1 in February 2025 in the FA Cup, while Tottenham won 4-1 in November 2024 and 4-0 in March 2024. The half-time pattern is striking: in four of the five games, the score was 1-0 at half-time at most, before the second halves brought veritable goal fests. Tottenham have lost their last two games in a row at Villa, which makes away games look problematic for both teams. For upcoming encounters, this record suggests bets such as over 2.5 goals or “both teams to score,” while result predictions remain uncertain due to the even distribution of wins.
