Brighton v Aston Villa: Line-ups, stats and preview

April 2, 2025 Trending News

Brighton v Aston Villa match preview

After contrasting experiences within the FA Cup quarter-finals, Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa meet on the Amex Stadium on Wednesday in a probably pivotal recreation for either side’ ambitions of qualifying for European competitors subsequent season.

Villa breezed to a final-four contest in opposition to Crystal Palace by profitable 3-0 at Preston North Finish on Sunday, a day after Albion have been knocked out on penalties at dwelling to Nottingham Forest of their first defeat in eight matches in all competitions.

“They’re a really mature and skilled crew,” stated Seagulls supervisor Fabian Hurzeler, noting that Villa are within the Champions League quarter-finals on their debut within the trendy iteration of the competitors.

“We all know they wish to go to Europe. They’re nonetheless in three competitions and going for a title, so that they have had an amazing season.”

“We now have to stay collectively and present a response. We’ve proved that already this season.” 💬 pic.twitter.com/WGSheZlzlC

— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) March 29, 2025

Seventh-placed Brighton would file a historic fourth successive top-flight dwelling win and rise as excessive as fourth with a victory, whereas Villa are two factors behind them and will transfer degree with fifth-placed Manchester Metropolis.

“They’re performing very, very nicely,” Villans supervisor Unai Emery stated of Brighton, describing Hurzeler as “improbable” throughout his time in Germany with former membership St Pauli.

“Our take a look at is a big [one] – to point out how we are able to face them and impose or dominate in opposition to a crew in excellent kind.

“There are a variety of groups there preventing for these [European qualification] positions. It’s wonderful how we face the final a part of the season.”

Brighton v Villa crew information

Ahead Georginio Rutter (ankle) and centre-back Adam Webster (muscular) might miss the remainder of Brighton’s season after sustaining accidents in opposition to Forest.

Winger Yankuba Minteh suffered extreme cramp throughout additional time of that recreation, whereas full-back Ferdi Kadioglu stays out however midfielders Solly March and Mats Wieffer might return to rivalry.

Ahead Leon Bailey is out for Villa with a knock however playmaker Ross Barkley has returned to coaching and on-loan Chelsea defender Axel Disasi is again in rivalry after being ineligible for the journey to Preston.

Ollie Watkins – the top-scoring English striker within the Premier League, with 13 objectives and 6 assists this season – is among the many gamers who might return to the beginning line-up alongside captain John McGinn.