There will be interesting mid-table in the Premier League action on Saturday as Aston Villa welcomes Crystal Palace to the West Midlands. The visitors may yet feel as though they need a return to winning ways to completely ease their position in the league standings, while Aston Villa could move up into the top half of the table with a victory.
The soccer betting markets will show how closely these two sides match up, but you can find our Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace prediction and EPL picks for today’s soccer matches here.
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Odds
The hosts will be the narrow favorites for this Aston Villa game. Villa currently sits as the +100 favorite to claim victory at home, while a Crystal Palace success on the road is a +300 chance.
The draw could be a popular selection for this clash, with that option currently sitting at +220. Both EPL teams to score is a short price of -106, while over 2.5 goals looks like excellent value at +130.
Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace Matchup Information
Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
Location of the Game: Villa Park, Birmingham, England.
Date and Time: Saturday, March 4, 2023. 10:00 AM ET.
How to Watch: NBC Sports
Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace Betting Preview
Aston Villa
The hosts will be a popular selection for the Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace prediction this weekend, as they have put in some fine performances since the arrival of Unai Emery. There is certainly an impression that the new coach is building something in the Midlands. Still, a European finish this season looks incredibly unlikely, given the momentum many of the sides have above the Villa.
However, the team from the Midlands was extremely professional in their previous match, as they weathered the storm at Goodison Park before striking their own shots. Ollie Watkins scored for the fifth game running to put Villa ahead before Emi Buendia capped an excellent cameo with the second goal. Even though Villa doesn’t boast an out-and-out number nine, they have scored in all eleven league matches that Emery has taken charge of.
But, the coach will be keen to return to winning ways at Villa Park, as this weekend’s hosts have lost each of their previous two home games by a 4-2 scoreline. The most recent of those was suffered against Arsenal. They have never conceded 4+ goals in three consecutive top-flight games before. Diego Carlos remains the key player missing for Villa, but he could return for their next league match against West Ham.
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace remains a side that I am slightly concerned about at this stage of the season. The league standings may see them sitting 12th overall, but they are on their longest winless run in the competition this term.
Coming into this game on the road, they have gone eight matches without a win, and they have been held to five draws in their previous six matches. Draws are becoming an issue for Patrick Vieira’s side, as no side in England’s top-flight has been held more regularly.
Palace still has an opportunity to turn their season around, as a victory at Villa Park would see them move nine points clear of the bottom three and within a point of the top half of the soccer standings. But, their away record throughout this campaign has been concerning, as they have picked up just two victories from eleven matches away from Selhurst Park.
The Eagles will also be without their top scorer this season on Saturday, as Wilfried Zaha will be the key absence on the Crystal Palace roster. Sam Johnstone also remains on the sidelines, but first-choice goalkeeper Vicente Guita has been the top choice between the sticks throughout the season.
Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace Betting Picks
The host’s home record in this fixture could be a key factor before making an Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace prediction. Villa has lost just once in their previous ten home matches against the Eagles, with that loss coming back in December 2013.
Palace just doesn’t appear to be a team capable of winning a match at present, and the very best they can hope for this weekend is a draw. But we expect Emery’s resurgent Villa to claim maximum points, with over 2.5 goals being scored.
- Pick 1: Aston Villa (+105)
- Pick 2: Over 2.5 Goals (+130)
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