The 2024/25 Premier League season will culminate on Sunday with Gameweek 38, and most clubs will already start preparing for next term with their final games. The latest round of fixtures will begin and end with ten simultaneous matches, including Manchester United vs Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s wretched 2024/25 campaign has reached its nadir this week with the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League final. While a victory in the match would not have saved their campaign, the Red Devils would have qualified for the UEFA Champions League and helped their finances. As for the Premier League, Ruben Amorim’s men are 16th and unlikely to improve their standing.
On the other hand, Aston Villa can qualify for the Champions League if results on the final day are favourable. The Villans are sixth in the Premier League standings and need to finish fifth or higher to retain their Champions League status. With third-placed Manchester City only two points ahead, a top-five finish is possible.
The reverse fixture was a drab goalless draw, with Manchester United and Aston Villa managing only five shots on target between them. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Ruben Amorim has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of only two first-team players vs Aston Villa on Sunday.
Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez are the only absentees due to their knee injuries. Meanwhile, Amorim may hand starts to fringe players and youngsters this weekend, with a few regulars retaining their spots.
Altay Bayindir will likely take his spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Aston Villa on Sunday. The central defensive unit should feature Victor Lindelof, Leny Yoro, and Ayden Heaven. Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot and Harry Amass will start as the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Christian Eriksen may line up alongside Manuel Ugarte in the central areas. Finally, Chido Obi-Martin should lead the line for Manchester United against Aston Villa, with Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Bayindir; Lindelof, Yoro, Heaven; Dalot, Eriksen, Ugarte, Amass; Zirkzee, Bruno Fernandes; Obi-Martin
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Unai Emery has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Aston Villa manager will be without only one first-team player on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford is the only absentee, with the English international ineligible to face his parent club. However, Youri Tielemans has resumed training after recovering from a calf injury and should be in the matchday squad. In addition, Jacob Ramsey has served a suspension.
Emiliano Martinez is an automatic pick between the sticks, and he may feature for the West Midlands outfit for the final time amid speculation surrounding his long-term future. Aston Villa will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of the Argentine international vs Manchester United, with Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, and Lucas Digne completing the backline.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana, with Youri Tielemans being a backup option on the bench. Marco Asensio will reprise the no. 10 role, with John McGinn and Morgan Rogers being the creative attackers. Finally, Ollie Watkins will spearhead the Aston Villa attack against Manchester United on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn; Watkins
While Bruno Fernandes, Joshua Zirkzee, and Marco Asensio were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Ollie Watkins as the Player to Watch for Sunday’s Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
The English international has enjoyed another memorable campaign, although he has not been as dominant as last term. Meanwhile, Manchester United are the only current team in the Premier League that Ollie Watkins has not scored against in the competition. So, he will be eager to cap off a solid 2024/25 season with a duck-breaking strike this weekend.
Manchester United have very little to be happy about as the 2024/25 season winds down. So, the home side will be desperate to give a happy moment to the Old Trafford faithful this weekend. However, with Aston Villa chasing UEFA Champions League qualification, another dreadful result may be on the cards.
While several second-string and youth players will be eager to make their mark, they may not trouble Aston Villa beyond a point. On the other hand, Ollie Watkins will break his duck against Manchester United and inspire a crucial victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Unai Emery and his charges.
