For the second match running in the 2015-16 English Premier League season, Manchester United Coach Louis Van Gaal will be sticking with Sergio Romero in goal against Aston Villa in Friday’s league matchup, as the David De Gea transfer saga continues. Both Man United and Villa respectively kickstarted their EPL seasons with 1-0 victories. Van Gaal’s side luckily got the three points against Tottenham via a Kyle Walker own goal, while Aston Villa claimed its season première win against Bournemouth, thanks to a headed goal from substitute Rudy Gestede. Both teams looked insipid in the offense last week and will need to perform better if we are to find a clear-cut winner in Friday’s soccer betting odds.Venue: Villa Park,Date: Friday, August 14, 2015Time: 2:45 PM ETTV: Sky Sports 1Game Odds: Aston Villa 5/1; Man Utd 4/6; Draw 3/1
Both teams are expected to maintain pretty much the same lineups from last week, with the trio of Memphis Depay, Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney leading United’s attack, and the duo of Sinclair and Agbonlahor leading Villa. After his impressive cameo in the win against Bournemouth, Gestede will probably find his way into his starting lineup, as Tim Sherwood’s side seeks to find a replacement for their former goal talisman Christian Benteke, who joined Liverpool in the offseason.
Entering Friday’s contest, Man United is riding hot on a 19-game unbeaten streak in games played at Villa Park, including 12 wins, a record they’ve held since they lost there on August 19th, 1995. Even more impressively, United has won 8 of its last 9 overall meetings against Aston Villa, only dropping a point in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park in December 2014. With such a dominant record, and a squad that is oozing with talent on both sides of the field (including new additions Matteo Darmian and Morgan Schneiderlin), it is no wander Van Gaal’s side is favored to get a win in this contest.
For Villa, it is going to be a hellish task trying to overcome their ominous record against United. The fact that Villa’s offense is undergoing a transition and the defense (returning most of its starters from last season) has been shaky further complicates their task. Nevertheless, Sherwood is a coach known to grind out results, so if he can motivate his defenders to put a solid front, then his team could have a winning chance. This would particularly be possible if the offense can also capitalize on using long balls, set-pieces and the flanks to fly in crosses to box, targeting tall players like Gestede and Agbonlahor. No doubt, it will be tough, but with relentless pressure, the kind they put against Bournemouth, then a draw or even a surprise could be possible, considering the United team is also in transition.
Do you agree with @BBC6Music DJ Mark Radcliffe’s Aston Villa v Man Utd prediction? http://t.co/86gY28mRb4 pic.twitter.com/wFAnPw0iD8
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 13, 2015Aston Villa vs. Manchester United Soccer Betting Preview and Analysis
Remarkably, this game is scheduled for Friday due to an English Defence League march in the West Midlands on Saturday, making it the only EPL matchup that will be played on Friday, with the rest of the games set for Saturday, Sunday and Monday, as usual.Both teams are expected to maintain pretty much the same lineups from last week, with the trio of Memphis Depay, Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney leading United’s attack, and the duo of Sinclair and Agbonlahor leading Villa. After his impressive cameo in the win against Bournemouth, Gestede will probably find his way into his starting lineup, as Tim Sherwood’s side seeks to find a replacement for their former goal talisman Christian Benteke, who joined Liverpool in the offseason.Entering Friday’s contest, Man United is riding hot on a 19-game unbeaten streak in games played at Villa Park, including 12 wins, a record they’ve held since they lost there on August 19th, 1995. Even more impressively, United has won 8 of its last 9 overall meetings against Aston Villa, only dropping a point in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park in December 2014. With such a dominant record, and a squad that is oozing with talent on both sides of the field (including new additions Matteo Darmian and Morgan Schneiderlin), it is no wander Van Gaal’s side is favored to get a win in this contest.For Villa, it is going to be a hellish task trying to overcome their ominous record against United. The fact that Villa’s offense is undergoing a transition and the defense (returning most of its starters from last season) has been shaky further complicates their task. Nevertheless, Sherwood is a coach known to grind out results, so if he can motivate his defenders to put a solid front, then his team could have a winning chance. This would particularly be possible if the offense can also capitalize on using long balls, set-pieces and the flanks to fly in crosses to box, targeting tall players like Gestede and Agbonlahor. No doubt, it will be tough, but with relentless pressure, the kind they put against Bournemouth, then a draw or even a surprise could be possible, considering the United team is also in transition.
