ASTON VILLA PREVIEW

Sunderland’s first game back after the September international break is a home game against Aston Villa. It will be the first time we've played Villa since 2018 and the first time we've played them in the Premier League since 2016. Here’s everything you need to know about our opponents:

FORM

So far, the Villans have played four league matches plus a League Cup fixture. They’ve drawn two (against Newcastle United and Everton) and lost two (against Brentford and Crystal Palace) of their league games and in the cup they drew away at Brentford but lost on penalties. They currently sit 19th and, notably, haven’t managed to score in the PL so far this season, with their sole goal this campaign coming in the EFL Cup.

THE MANAGER

The Lions are managed by 53-year-old Unai Emery. He used to be a midfielder, turning out for Real Sociedad, Toledo, Racing Ferrol, Leganés and Lorca Deportiva. His first managerial gig was with his final club as a player (Lorca Deportiva) where he won a Miguel Muñoz Trophy (an award for managers) for the Segunda División in 2006 and he then went to Almería (where he won the earlier award again in the same league, in 2007), then to Valencia. After his four-year spell with Valencia, he left Spain for a brief period, joining Spartak Moscow but quite quickly returned and went to Sevilla. At Los Nervionenses, he won back to back to back Europa League titles (in 2014, 2015 and 2016) beating Benfica, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, and, most notably, Liverpool in the three finals. He was also named the La Liga Manager of the Month three times during the same period. A two-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain followed, he won a Ligue 1 title in 2018, two Coupe de Frances (in 2017 and 2018), two Coupe de la Ligues (2017 and 2018) and two Trophée des Champions (2016 and 2017), in addition to a UNFP Manager of the Year Award in 2018. He was then introduced to English football via Arsenal, staying in London for a year and a half. He got the Gunners to the 2019 Europa League final but he missed out on EL number four as they lost to Chelsea. He did win his fourth two years later in his next role at Villarreal though, defeating Manchester United to clinch the trophy. In November 2022, he took the Aston Villa job and he’s been with them for nearly 150 games now and reached the 1,000 games managed milestone whilst at the club. In 2022, he was given the Globe Soccer Awards Coach Career Award and, in 2023 he won the Premier League Manager of the Month award in two different months.

KEY PLAYERS

Aston Villa’s sole goal in 2025/26 was scored by attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott, who is on loan from Liverpool. The only assist was provided by their captain and Scotland international John McGinn. New signings this summer include Jadon Sancho on loan from Chelsea (left winger), Ivory Coast international attacking midfielder Evann Guessand and goalkeeper Marco Bizot. Argentina international Emiliano Martinez is their first choice shot stopper. Ollie Watkins (striker) was their top goalscorer last term, netting 17 goals, and Morgan Rogers (attacking midfielder) provided the most assists, with 16.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

We last met Villa in March 2018 in the Championship, we lost 3-0. The last time we beat them at home was in January 2016, that was by three goals to one with Patrick van Aanholt scoring once and Jermain Defoe supplying a brace. Sunderland have faced off against Aston Villa a total of 184 times, 55 of those games have seen victories, 47 draws and 82 defeats.

PREDICTION

They have to score at some point in the league and I think they will do it in this game. They are also a Europa League team, so this will be our toughest game so far I think. I do think we’ve been effective defensively and we are scoring goals at home. I’m going to predict a 1-1 draw with us going ahead before the visitors equalise. A point will be a very good outcome for us.