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Aston Villa host Crystal Palace at Villa Park on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 19:00 BST in the Premier League. Unai Emery’s Villa are aiming to build on their strong early-season form, while Oliver Glasner’s Palace look to turn stubborn draws into victories. Both sides have ambitions of pushing for European football, making this fixture an important benchmark for the season. This Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Betting Preview covers match background, head-to-head, form, team news, odds, tactical insights, and expert predictions.
Match Background – Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Betting Preview
- Aston Villa: Emery’s side finished 4th last season and have started 2025/26 with back-to-back wins over West Ham (3-0) and Leicester (2-1). Summer arrivals Amadou Onana (€59m from Everton) and Ian Maatsen (€44.5m from Chelsea) strengthen midfield and defense. Villa’s home form is formidable with 7 wins in their last 10 at Villa Park, averaging 2.2 goals per game.
- Crystal Palace: Glasner’s men ended 10th last season and have opened with two draws (1-1 vs Brentford, 0-0 vs Norwich). Daichi Kamada (free from Lazio) and Ismaila Sarr (€15m from Marseille) add creativity and pace, but their blunt attack (just 1 goal in 2 games) is a concern. Away form is mixed, with 3 draws in their last 5.
- Head-to-Head: Villa lead this fixture with 8 wins to Palace’s 5 in 20 meetings, with an average of 2.6 goals per game. Last season, Villa dominated both encounters (3-1 at home, 5-0 away).
Head-to-Head & Form Guide – Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Premier League
| Category | Aston Villa | Crystal Palace |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | 8 wins | 5 wins |
| Last 5 Meetings | Villa W3, D1, L1 | Palace W1, D1, L3 |
| Avg Goals (H2H) | 2.6 per game | — |
| Home/Away Form | Won 5 of last 6 at Villa Park | Drew 3 of last 5 away |
| Current PL Standing | 3rd (6 points) | 12th (2 points) |
Team News & Key Players – Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Premier League
Aston Villa
- Injuries: Tyrone Mings (knee, out), Boubacar Kamara (fitness, doubtful).
- Likely XI (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins.
- Ones to Watch:
- Ollie Watkins – 2 goals already this season, aerial and clinical threat.
- Amadou Onana – New midfield anchor, adds box-to-box energy.
- Leon Bailey – Winger with pace and creativity (1 assist).
Crystal Palace
- Injuries: Chadi Riad (knee, out), Matheus França (rib, doubtful).
- Likely XI (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Guéhi, Andersen, Richards; Muñoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Kamada, Eze; Mateta.
- Ones to Watch:
- Eberechi Eze – Creative hub, 1 goal already this season.
- Jean-Philippe Mateta – Aerial threat, key striker.
- Adam Wharton – Midfield controller, high pass accuracy.
Odds & Betting Markets – Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Premier League
Please note that odds are subject to change, so check Tobibet for updates before placing your bets.
| Market | Odds | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home Win (Villa) | -135 | 49% probability, home edge |
| Draw | +290 | 24% probability, Palace’s draw trend |
| Away Win (Palace) | +350 | 27% probability, upset value |
| Over 2.5 Goals | -115 | Seen in 55% of H2H |
| Both Teams to Score | -120 | 55% likelihood; Villa strong, Palace score away |
| Asian Handicap | Villa -0.5 (-120) | Covers any Villa win |
| Corners O/U 10.5 | -110 | Villa home pressure |
| Cards O/U 4.5 | -110 | Averaged 4.5 in H2H |
Player Props: Watkins Anytime +150; Eze Shots on Target -120.
Tactical Preview & Betting Insight
- Aston Villa: Expect a 4-2-3-1 with high press, Watkins leading the line. Onana will anchor midfield while Bailey exploits space on the wing. Villa will look to control possession (55–58%) and pressure Palace’s back line.
- Crystal Palace: Glasner likely sets up 3-4-2-1, with Eze and Kamada linking to Mateta. Palace will absorb pressure and counter, but their wing-backs could be vulnerable against Villa’s pace.
Game Flow: Villa will dominate early possession, Palace aiming for second-half counters. If Villa score first, the game opens for overs; if Palace hold, a late Villa push is likely.
Prediction & Betting Tips
Predicted Score: Aston Villa 2-1 Crystal Palace. Villa’s firepower at home should edge Palace’s defensive resilience.
Best Bets:
- Villa to Win – -135
- BTTS – -120
- Watkins Anytime Scorer – +150
Long Shots:
- Over 3.5 Goals – +200
- Villa Win + BTTS – +300
Live Angles:
- If 0-0 at HT → Villa second-half win (~1.90).
- If 1-1 at 60 mins → Over 3.5 goals (~2.40).
