Aston Villa – Leeds Utd

Aston Villa are justifiably favourites for the upcoming match

The mid-table sides in the English league table will start the 20th round. Both teams have little to boast about this season, but avoiding relegation is a priority for each side. Leeds are now two points clear of the relegation zone, but have one game in hand. Aston Villa have no games in hand, but have a safe seven points lead over the red zone. The teams will meet in a head-to-head encounter after cup fixtures that both did not play their best. However, while Leeds snatched a draw against Cardiff City and moved the contest to their home ground, Aston Villa managed to lose at home to the more than humble Stevenage. Bookmakers have identified the home side as the favourites for the match with roughly the same odds on a win as on a non-win for the visitors. Aston Villa's results since the resumption of the season include a full range of outcomes. Apart from the aforementioned cup debacle, the Villans have lost at home to Liverpool, beaten Tottenham on the road and made peace with Wolverhampton, who are now in the relegation zone. Overall, the team has been under Unai Emery's guidance for 2.5 months and in that period has moved from 14th to 11th place. The Birmingham club have failed to win in their last four official matches at home, which may indicate tactical and psychological problems in the team, a weak first-choice game. Leeds United are having a worse season than we have been used to in years past. Marsh's side's last win in official matches came in early November last year, after which they've either lost or drawn. The last three meetings between Leeds in late December and early January ended in world results. It was the team that interrupted Newcastle's impressive winning streak on the last day of 2022. In other words, Leeds United is a fairly unyielding club. We should also not forget about the guests' good attack in the form of the experienced Rodrigo and young Summerville. The home side will most likely try to seize the initiative in this match, but the pre-match predictions do not bode well for their victory.