BETTING GUIDE: Aston Villa vs Slazburg, match preview, team news and betting tip
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 29.01.26. | 11:10
While Villa have already secured automatic qualification to the last 16, Salzburg arrive at Villa Park knowing only a win will keep their slim knockout hopes alive
Aston Villa round off their Europa League league-phase campaign on Thursday night at Villa Park against Red Bull Salzburg, a fixture carrying very different stakes for the two sides.
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While Villa have already secured automatic qualification to the last 16, Salzburg arrive at Villa Park knowing only a win will keep their slim knockout hopes alive.
Unai Emery’s side comes into this game in strong overall form and with confidence high.
Villa followed up a crucial 1-0 Europa League win away to Fenerbahce by edging Newcastle United 2-0 on Sunday, a result that kept them firmly in the Premier League title conversation.
In Europe, Villa have been one of the standout performers, winning six of their seven league-phase matches to sit second in the 36-team table on 18 points, level with leaders Lyon.
Across their last five matches in all competitions, Villa have scored five goals and conceded just two, underlining their defensive stability.
At home, Villa Park has been a fortress for much of the season. The Villans have won 19 of their last 22 home games in all competitions, including all three Europa League fixtures in this phase.
However, a recent 1-0 Premier League loss to Everton showed they are not infallible, and Villa have now seen both teams score in four of their last six home matches.
With qualification already sealed, Emery is expected to rotate his squad, which could make them more vulnerable defensively.
Villa will be without several key midfielders, with Youri Tielemans joining Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn on the injury list, while Ross Barkley remains a doubt.
That said, the hosts still possess quality throughout the squad. Jadon Sancho, Leon Bailey, and Evann Guessand are expected to feature prominently, while Amadou Onana should anchor the midfield.
Villa’s depth allows them to maintain an attacking threat even with rotation.
Salzburg, by contrast, arrive under pressure. The Austrian champions sit 28th in the Europa League standings with six points from seven games and must win to have any chance of sneaking into the top 24.
Their league-phase campaign has been uneven, with five defeats already, although last week’s 3-1 home win over Basel kept their hopes alive.
Over their last five matches in all competitions, Salzburg have scored eight goals and conceded eight, highlighting both attacking intent and defensive fragility.
Domestically, Salzburg tops the Austrian Bundesliga, but a long winter break means they lack recent competitive rhythm. Their European away form is a major concern, having lost all three away games in this league phase and conceding multiple goals in four of their last six Europa League matches.
They also have a poor historical record against English sides, failing to win any of their previous eight European encounters.
Team news is more settled for the visitors, with only Takumu Kawamura and John Mellberg sidelined.
Teenager Kerim Alajbegovic, who scored twice against Basel, is expected to start alongside Petar Ratkov, Salzburg’s top scorer this season.
Their need to attack from the outset could leave space at the back.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Aston Villa and Salzburg. Villa’s overall home strength contrasts with Salzburg’s away struggles, but the differing motivations could shape an open contest.
Key Pointers:
Both teams have scored in four of Villa’s last six home games.
Salzburg have conceded 2+ goals in four of their last six Europa League matches.
Two of Villa’s last three Europa League games saw both teams score.
Salzburg have scored in six of their last eight competitive matches.
With Villa likely to rotate and Salzburg forced to chase a win, goals at both ends look likely.
The hosts retain plenty of attacking quality, while the visitors’ urgency should translate into chances despite their defensive issues.
Prediction: Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
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