After winning the first leg of the Europa Conference League play-off match against Hibernian, Aston Villa will play the second leg at Villa Park this Thursday.
Key Takeaways
- Aston Villa have scored 12 goals in all competitions in the last three games
- Aston Villa defeated Hibernian 5-0 in the first leg
- Hibernian have only registered one victory in the last 5 games
Europa Conference League qualification for Aston Villa is inching closer. Even though they lost to Newcastle United in the first game, they have picked up a pace and look ready to take on big targets. Taking a 5-0 victory in the first leg only, Aston Villa demonstrated dominance and outplayed Hibernian in every area.
Hibernian Form
Since finishing 5th last season, Hibernian were looking for big things in the 2023/24 season, but so far, they have not met expectations. They are bottom of the league and almost out of the Conference League as well.
They have looked like a mess defensively, which has contributed to their decline. Last week, they suffered a 0-5 loss at home against Aston Villa. Even though things will be more difficult for them with the away leg coming up, they will still be aiming for an impressive performance.
Aston Villa Form
Aston Villa have hit the right track after losing to Newcastle United in the opening game of the season. They have won all three games and scored 12 goals in them. The team looks like a serious contender under Unai Emery and they will be aiming for the Europa Conference League, which is right within their reach.
Having won the first leg 5-0, they can now sigh with relief knowing that half of their work is already done. Clearly, Emery wouldn't want to go to Anfield with tired legs when they have Liverpool waiting on Sunday in the Premier League. Aston Villa may consider resting key players and trying out new combinations.
Head-to-Head
This is Aston Villa's first competitive encounter with Hibernian. Aston Villa crushed Hibernian 5-0 in the first leg.
Team News
The Villans may appear settled, but they have some serious injury concerns. They have eight injured players who are likely to miss this match. They are: Mings, Moreno, Martinez, Iroegbunam, Dendoncker, Ramsey, Coutinho, and Buendia.
As for Hibernian, they have injury concerns and will likely be without Caden, Levitt, McKirdy, and Wollacott.
Key Players
Watkins has been a lethal name for Aston Villa for years now. He leads them from the front and again this season he has looked in supreme form. Watkins is a hard-working striker and he is a major part of Emery's system.
The new recruit in attack for Hibernian this season, Adam Le Fondre, has so far shown good touch under the new team. He has scored two goals and can pose a threat to Aston Villa's defence.
How to Watch on TV and Online
The telecast of this match will be available on VillaTV for UK viewers.
Final Thoughts
With a 5-0 first-leg win, Aston Villa has almost sealed the tie, but at home, they will be looking to increase the margin and stake their dominance. Hibernian, on the other hand, will be playing for pride and will want to put up a strong fight.
Premier League
Uefa Europa Conference League
Premiership