Crystal Palace match faces call for tranquility from Digne
Aston Villa Prepare for Tough Test Against Crystal Palace
Aston Villa are set to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League this weekend, with both teams looking to secure three points in a closely contested match.
Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa's striker, has had a quiet start to the season, scoring just one goal in 14 Premier League appearances in August. His most recent goal came against Palace back in August 2022. However, Watkins will be eager to find the back of the net again, as Villa have failed to score in the top flight this season and have gone three consecutive Premier League matches without a goal.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace have been in impressive form, with Jean Philippe-Mateta scoring five league goals in seven appearances against Aston Villa. Mateta's most recent goal against Villa came in the Community Shield, and he will be looking to continue his good form against the Villans.
Lucas Digne, Aston Villa's defender, has called for calm ahead of the match, stating that he believes the team's performances will improve. Digne, who signed a new contract with Aston Villa earlier this month, is confident that the team can put their recent goal drought behind them.
Crystal Palace's manager, Oliver Glasner, believes their recent form could provide a mental advantage, with Palace having won four of their last five matches against Aston Villa in all competitions. Palace have also scored at least two goals in every single game against Aston Villa in the last year, which will be a concern for the Villans.
Despite this, Aston Villa have a 51.0% Opta win probability for the match, and they are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League home games against Palace. Villa are also unbeaten in their last 19 home Premier League matches, which suggests that they will be a tough nut to crack for Palace.
Ismaila Sarr, Crystal Palace's winger, has either scored or assisted a goal in all six of his starts against Villa in all competitions. Sarr's goalscoring record against Villa will be a threat that Aston Villa will need to neutralise if they are to secure a victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo has also had success against Aston Villa in the past, scoring two goals in a 3-2 win in early April and a total of nine goals in three consecutive league games against them. However, Ronaldo is no longer with Manchester United, and it remains to be seen whether his replacement, Marcus Rashford, can continue his goalscoring form against Aston Villa.
In summary, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are set for an exciting clash this weekend. Both teams have had mixed fortunes in recent matches, with Villa struggling to find the back of the net and Palace in good form. However, Villa's home record against Palace and their 51.0% Opta win probability suggest that they will be favourites to secure a victory. It will be interesting to see whether Ollie Watkins can find his goalscoring touch again and whether Crystal Palace can continue their good form against Aston Villa.
