Premier League: Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace preview 08/31/2025


Match Details & Overview

  • Fixture: Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
  • Date & Kick-off: Sunday, 31 August 2025, with a rare 19:00 BST start time, shifted from Friday to accommodate Palace's European commitments.
  • Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham—known for its vibrant atmosphere and strong home performances by Villa.

 

Current Form & Context

Aston Villa

  • Still searching for their first Premier League win or goal of the season after drawing with Newcastle and losing to Brentford. Despite dominant possession and chance creation, they’ve lacked a clinical edge.
  • Historically strong at home, Villa remain unbeaten in their last 19 league matches at Villa Park—the longest current unbeaten run in the league.

Crystal Palace

·         Coming off a Europa Conference League play-off, likely increasing fatigue as they make their trip to Villa.

·         In excellent form: undefeated in their last 13 competitive matches, including FA Cup and Community Shield success.

·         Known for their dominance over Villa in recent meets—they’re unbeaten in their past five meetings (four wins, one draw).

 

Team News & Injuries

Aston Villa

  • Confirmed absentees: Andres Garcia and Boubacar Kamara. Ross Barkley is doubtful due to fitness issues.

Crystal Palace

  • Missing: Edward Nketiah, Chadi Riad, Caleb Kporha, Cheick Oumar Doucouré, Will Hughes.
  • Despite absences, their depth—led by key performers like Sarr and Mateta—remains potent.

 

Predicted Line-ups

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)

Based on recent projections and available options:

  • GK: Martínez
  • Defence: Cash (RB), Mings, Torres (CBs), Digne (LB)
  • Midfield Pivot: Guessand, Onana
  • Attacking Midfield: McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers
  • Striker: Watkins

Crystal Palace (3-4-3)

  • GK: Henderson
  • Defence: Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi
  • Midfield (wide): Muñoz, Mitchell; central: Wharton, Lerma
  • Attack: Sarr (left wing), Mateta (center), Pino (right wing)

 

Head-to-Head & Historical Trends

  • All-Time Record (via SoccerZZ): Out of 54 matches—Villa 23 wins (~43%), Palace 16 (~30%), and 15 draws (~28%).
  • Premier League Era (via myKhel): In 20 PL meetings, both clubs have won 7 each, with 6 draws. Goal tally heavily favors Palace slightly.
  • Recent Pattern: Palace have not lost to Villa in their last five encounters (4W, 1D)
  • Frequent Scoring Over 2.5 Goals: 56% of their matchups produce more than 2.5 goals.

 

 

Broadcast Info & Streaming

  • UK: Live on Sky Sports, with commentary by Pien Meulensteen and Joel Ward.
  • Global Streaming: Availability varies by region; for example, Tom’s Guide notes that Idman TV (Azerbaijan) streams PL games for free.
  • Pay-TV or subscription services like Peacock, DAZN, or regional broadcasters depending on your location.