Villa Park hasn’t exactly been a fortress this season for Aston Villa, and an unbeaten Brentford are the latest side to try and take advantage of that home fragility.
Match News and Current Form
Four points from their opening five Premier League games (W1, D1, L3) has hardly been an ideal start to the campaign for Aston Villa, but the reigning Europa League champions did pick up their first victory of the campaign against Tottenham prior to the break. Now looking to garner that confidence into a charge up the table, Villa will be hoping to replicate their remarkable run from matchday six onwards last season, when they won 12 of their next 13 top-flight games (L1)! Successive Premier League defeats at Villa Park this term hardly hint at a replication of that remarkable run and leave Unai Emery’s men on the brink of losing their opening three home matches of a league campaign for only the third time in history.
Brentford enter this round as one of five sides yet to taste defeat in this season’s Premier League (W2, D3) as they dream of a maiden European campaign after narrowly missing out in 2025/26. The Bees’ impressive form dates back to last season too, with their current seven-match unbeaten top-flight run (W2, D5) serving as their longest ongoing run in the Premier League, with the three away games therein all ending level. Hitting the road has long since proved a little problematic for Keith Andrews’ side, who are now winless in seven away league games (D5, L2), raising doubts over whether Andrews can secure the win he needs to become just the third manager in history to win his first three Premier League meetings with Emery.
Head-to-Head History
Brentford completed a Premier League double over Villa last season, though the 1-0 win they managed on this ground is their only away league win in their last 11 attempts (D6, L4).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Aston Villa have recorded the fewest shots (48) and shots on target (12) in the Premier League this season.
Twelve of Villa’s last 14 games produced over 2.5 goals.
Seven of Brentford's last nine matches saw both teams score.
Brentford’s last five away league outings produced an average of 5.4 yellow cards per game.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Big-money summer signing Johan Manzambi opened his Villa account against Spurs with a ninth successive goal at club level to arrive before the hour mark. Dango Ouattara scored the winning goal in both Premier League H2Hs last season but may have to be patient if his first strike of the campaign is to arrive here, as none of his last six goals for club or country arrived earlier than the 40th minute.
Villa’s Matty Cash picked up a knock on international duty for Poland, joining fellow full back Ian Maatsen on the sidelines. Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard left the Denmark camp early, but they’ll hope captain Nathan Collins will be fit enough to return.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Villa’s form this season hasn’t been the best, nor is Brentford’s recent away record, so backing a draw could be the most logical approach here.
Author: Chris Wilson