As Aston Villa host Man United on Sunday, Villa Park sets the stage for a clash with deep historical resonance and great implications for both sides. Catch the action live on SuperSport.
Despite United's dominance in this fixture over the years, Villa have become a formidable force under Unai Emery, making this encounter one to watch.
VILLA'S REVIVAL UNDER EMERY
Aston Villa have been a resurgent side under Unai Emery, whose arrival in November 2022 signaled a turning point, highlighted by their emphatic 3-1 win over United in his first game in charge. That victory was their first in 25 Premier League home games against the Red Devils, breaking a long-standing jinx (D8 L16).
Villa’s start to the 2024/25 season has been their best since 2008/09, with 13 points from their opening six matches (W4 D1 L1), paralleling their golden era under Martin O’Neill.
With Villa Park becoming a fortress—74 home points under Emery since his arrival, bettered only by Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal—Aston Villa will approach this game with growing confidence.
Ollie Watkins has been crucial to Villa’s rise, with the forward involved in 55 goals in 67 league games under Emery (36 goals, 19 assists). His remarkable run of form places him in elite company, behind only Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah for direct goal contributions over this period. Watkins will be eager to score in four consecutive games for the first time since April 2023.
Adding further potency to Villa's attack is Jhon Durán, who has proven to be a super-sub at Villa Park. With four goals in his last four home appearances, all from the bench, Durán’s lethal strike rate of a goal every 43 minutes makes him a wildcard for United to handle.
UNITED'S EARLY SEASON STRUGGLES
Manchester United, in contrast, are facing a turbulent start to the campaign, with just seven points from their first six games (W2 D1 L3). This is their joint-worst start to a Premier League season, matching disappointing campaigns under David Moyes in 2013/14 and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020/21.
Erik ten Hag’s side have been defensively fragile, with eight defeats by a margin of three or more goals since the start of 2022/23—a concerning trend for a club of their stature.
To compound United’s issues, Bruno Fernandes will miss this crucial fixture due to suspension following his red card against Tottenham. Fernandes has been a lynchpin for the Red Devils, and United have struggled without him, winless in their last four league games when he hasn’t featured (D1 L3), and failing to score in the last three of those.
One glimmer of hope for United has been their improved away form, having kept consecutive clean sheets on the road with a 3-0 win at Southampton and a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace. A third consecutive away clean sheet would be their best defensive run since March 2021.
THE STAKES
With Villa flying high and United seeking stability, this encounter could have significant ramifications. Villa’s impressive home form and Watkins’ red-hot streak contrast sharply with United’s vulnerability and the absence of their talisman, Bruno Fernandes.
Should Villa secure a win, it would further solidify their status as top-four contenders and deepen United’s woes. However, United's rich history in this fixture means they cannot be written off easily.
Aston Villa v Manchester United promises to be a captivating affair, with both sides eager to seize momentum in what could prove a pivotal moment in their seasons.