Bournemouth vs Aston Villa: Premier League Preview

The Cherries arrive on a high after securing a historic 2-1 win at Arsenal last weekend—their first-ever away triumph over the North London club. Despite falling behind early to Declan Rice’s opener, Andoni Iraola’s side showed resilience and character, with Dean Huijsen’s header and an unorthodox midriff finish from Evanilson sealing a memorable comeback. That result extended Bournemouth’s unbeaten run to five matches, signalling a return to form after an inconsistent second half of the campaign.

Bournemouth currently sit eighth in the table, and while that position could still yield a spot in next season’s Conference League depending on other results, anything less than victory on Saturday will officially end their hopes of breaking into the top seven, with Villa holding a seven-point cushion.

On home turf, the Cherries have displayed remarkable consistency, scoring exactly one goal in each of their last six Premier League matches at the Vitality Stadium. That level of output has kept them competitive, but they face a tough test against an Aston Villa side still firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

Villa responded well to their recent FA Cup heartbreak with a narrow 1-0 win over Fulham last weekend, as Youri Tielemans nodded home from John McGinn’s corner to keep their European push alive. The victory extended Villa’s strong run of form—seven wins from their last nine Premier League games—and kept them within striking distance of the top five. Unai Emery’s men have also found consistency in attack, scoring in each of their last 11 league outings, with their last blank coming back on February 1.

The head-to-head record between these two sides has shifted in Villa’s favour in recent years. Bournemouth had enjoyed a four-match winning streak over the Villans between 2016 and 2022, but Villa have since gone unbeaten in their last four meetings with the Cherries. Their most recent clash ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw in October, with Evanilson salvaging a point for Bournemouth deep into stoppage time.

In terms of team news, Bournemouth are sweating on the fitness of Dango Ouattara, who suffered a groin injury during the win at Arsenal. Luis Sinisterra (thigh), Ryan Christie (groin), and Enes Ünal (knee) are all set to miss out, likely for the remainder of the season.Aston Villa, meanwhile, will be without Marcus Rashford, who is sidelined with a thigh injury and undergoing rehabilitation. Aside from Rashford’s absence, Emery has a fully fit squad at his disposal. Ollie Watkins, Villa’s top scorer, will aim to extend his excellent creative record against Bournemouth; while he has scored just once in previous league meetings with the Cherries, he has provided four assists—the most he has managed against any single club in the competition.

With both teams eyeing a strong finish to the season and European qualification still within reach, Saturday’s match promises plenty of intrigue and intensity on the South Coast.