Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace EFL Cup Preview
- Draw or Villa win
- Eze to score or assist
In one of five all-Premier League EFL Cup last-16 clashes, Aston Villa welcomes Crystal Palace to Villa Park on Wednesday night, with both teams eyeing a quarter-final berth.
Unai Emery’s squad managed to edge past Wycombe Wanderers in round three, while Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace side enter’s this encounter off the back of impressive wins over Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers. Here’s a detailed preview of what promises to be an intriguing matchup.
Recent Performances and EFL Cup Journey So Far
Aston Villa’s Commanding Form Under Unai Emery
Under the astute management of Unai Emery, Aston Villa has enjoyed a strong start to the season, maintaining an 11-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Villa’s European journey has them at the top of the Champions League standings, showcasing Emery’s expertise in knockout football.
Their EFL Cup journey, however, has seen moments of vulnerability; they scraped through the third round with a 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers, where late complacency allowed a consolation goal for the Chairboys.
Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw against Bournemouth ended in heartbreak as Villa conceded in the 96th minute after Ross Barkley had given them the lead.
Although they extended their unbeaten run, the last-gasp equaliser highlighted a need for greater focus in critical moments.
Villa’s home form in the EFL Cup has also been mixed, with recent exits to Stoke City and Everton at Villa Park casting a shadow over their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals.
Crystal Palace’s EFL Cup Resurgence Under Glasner
In contrast, Crystal Palace has found solace in the EFL Cup during a turbulent league campaign.
Glasner’s men emphatically dismissed Norwich City 4-0 in the second round and narrowly defeated QPR 2-1 to secure their place in the last 16.
In the league, Palace has endured a slow start, with a 1-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday marking their first Premier League victory of the season, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
With the league struggles temporarily set aside, Palace can focus on breaking new ground in the EFL Cup.
The Eagles haven’t advanced past the last 16 since 2011-12, and their last trip to Villa Park ended in disappointment. However, their last meeting with Villa, a memorable 5-0 thrashing at Selhurst Park, serves as a reminder of Palace’s potential to cause an upset.
Head-to-Head Record and Recent Encounters
Villa Park hasn’t been a favourable ground for Crystal Palace, who are winless in their last seven Premier League visits, losing four of the last five.
However, recent encounters have been more balanced; Palace managed a 5-0 victory over Villa at home in the final stages of the previous season.
Villa’s home crowd and form this season make them slight favourites, but Palace’s recent win over Tottenham could boost their confidence as they seek revenge.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa
Aston Villa has a relatively clean bill of health, with Jaden Philogene back from suspension. Emery may opt to rotate, giving opportunities to second-string players and recent returnees from injury.
Both Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara, recovering from knee injuries, could see some action as they regain match fitness. Key players like Ross Barkley, who scored against Bournemouth, are expected to feature prominently in this cup tie.
Aston Villa Predicted Starting XI:
Olsen; Nedeljkovic, Mings, Carlos, Maatsen; Kamara, Barkley; Bailey, Buendia, Philogene; Duran
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace has a few notable absentees, with Chadi Riad, Chris Richards, Matheus Franca, and Cheick Doucoure sidelined due to injuries.
Jefferson Lerma and Ismaila Sarr are also doubts after being forced off in the game against Tottenham. In their places, Will Hughes and Daichi Kamada are likely candidates to step in, with Kamada’s creativity and Hughes’ defensive discipline expected to be key.
Crystal Palace Predicted Starting XI: Henderson; Guehi, Chalobah, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Kamada, Eze; Nketiah
Key Players to Watch
Ross Barkley (Aston Villa): With a goal against Bournemouth, Barkley is in good form and will be a crucial part of Villa’s midfield setup in the EFL Cup. His ability to make late runs into the box and his eye for goal make him a danger to Palace’s defence.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace): Known for his creativity and agility, Eze was instrumental in Palace’s win over Tottenham, delivering a sublime assist. His playmaking skills could be the difference if Palace is to create scoring opportunities at Villa Park.
Match Prediction
Crystal Palace’s recent form and injury woes may prove to be an obstacle as they travel to a strong Aston Villa side.
While Palace manager Oliver Glasner has shown he can deploy a full-strength lineup for cup competitions, Aston Villa’s depth and quality, combined with their home advantage, may give them the edge.
Expect a close contest with both sides creating chances, but Villa’s experience in knockout games and their strong bench could tip the scales.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Crystal Palace (Villa win on penalties)
Villa’s home crowd and Emery’s tactical nous in cup ties should ultimately secure a quarter-final spot for the Lions, even if a determined Palace side takes them to the wire.