Aston Villa will continue their search for their first Premier League win of the season on Sunday when they welcome in-form Fulham to Villa Park. For Unai Emery’s men, the game represents an opportunity to halt a disappointing start to the season, while Marco Silva’s visitors arrive looking to build on their steady momentum.
Unai Emery’s side have found goals hard to come by in 2025-26, and Matty Cash scored their only top-flight strike of the campaign so far last Sunday in a 1-1 draw with 10-man newly-promoted Sunderland as reported by Softfootball..
As for Marco Silva’s Londoners, they have won four of their last five games ahead of this weekend’s clash, and the Cottagers will be confident of securing another three points as they push for a place in Europe.
Aston Villa enter this clash sitting uncomfortably near the bottom of the table, with just two points collected from their opening five matches. Their most recent outing, a 1-1 draw with Brentford, showed glimpses of fight, Harvey Elliott struck the equalizer, but their lack of consistency in the final third continues to hurt them.
Manager Unai Emery has been experimenting with different midfield combinations in search of greater creativity, while repeated defensive lapses have forced changes at the back. With pressure mounting from the home support, Villa will be desperate to rediscover their edge at Villa Park, where their intensity and pressing style are typically more effective. Even though they have been unbeaten in their last seven European games at Villa Park as seen on their X handle.
Fulham, by contrast, have begun the campaign with more composure. Their narrow 1-0 win over Leeds United, sealed by a tidy finish from Gabriel Gudmundsson lifted them into the top half of the table with eight points from five games. Marco Silva’s tactical adaptability has been key, allowing his side to stay competitive even when not at their fluent best.
That said, Fulham’s record on the road is a concern. While they often start brightly, their tendency to concede late goals has cost them points away from home. Silva is likely to emphasize on defensive compactness in Sunday’s clash, hoping to frustrate Villa and hit on the counter through his dynamic midfield and forward options.
Team News
Both Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans have been missing through injury, while Ross Barkley is ineligible and Boubacar Kamara has just returned, so his midfield options may be limited.
In the final third, though, loanees Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho are strong contenders to start, while Donyell Malen is an alternative to struggling striker Ollie Watkins.
Marco Silva is expected to make wholesale changes to the team that beat Brentford, taking the opportunity to rest key players. He has a fully fit squad to select from, which is a significant advantage. Benjamin Lecomte is set to deputise in goal, while the likes of Issa Diop and Jorge Cuenca could form a new partnership in central defence.
The experienced duo of Tom Cairney and Harrison Reed are likely to start in midfield. Further forward, Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Adama Traoré will provide the creative spark for striker Raúl Jiménez.
Possible Lineups
Aston Villa Possible Lineups: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, McGinn; Guessand, Rogers, Buendia; Malen
Fulham Possible Lineups:: Lecomte; Tete, Diop, Cuenca, Sessegnon; Cairney, Reed; Traore, Wilson, Smith-Rowe; Jimenez
SoftFootball’s Prediction
While Fulham have looked the steadier of the two so far, Villa’s urgency to climb the table and their strong record in this fixture suggest the hosts may finally turn a corner. A 2-1 scoreline looks plausible, with Villa striking early, Fulham responding, and the home side finding a late winner to reignite their campaign.
