No Konsa & £130k-p/w machine unleashed in Aston Villa predicted lineup v Bees

Aston Villa will be aiming for their third league win in a row as they travel to face Brentford on Sunday

In their last Europa Conference League group stage encounter on Thursday night, Aston Villa’s 1-1 tie with Zrinjski, a Bosnian team, gave them first place in the group.

 

Due to the outcome, they would not be able to participate in the February knockout round playoffs and would instead advance directly to the round of 16, enjoying a longer vacation from European football.

Unai Emery will now have more time to focus on keeping his team in the fantastic Premier League form they have been showing these last several months.

The Spaniard will undoubtedly be looking for 12 points from 12 with matches against Brentford, Sheffield United, Manchester United, and Burnley coming up before 2024. This could turn the Midlands team from top four contenders to title contenders.

Emery may rotate his team because the matchup with the Bees is scheduled for just three days after another draining

continental encounter. Football FanCast has predicted Emery’s starting lineup.

GK – Emiliano Martínez

While rookie Filip Marschall was making his first start of the season against the

Bosnian team on Thursday, the Argentine was rested.

 

Martinez has missed the last two European matches, but in his last two league games, he has kept two clean

sheets against Manchester City and Arsenal. A clean sheet against the Bees

on Sunday would go a long way toward securing another crucial three points.

RB – Matty Cash

Matty Cash was solid against Zrinkjski in midweek, but he was withdrawn after 69

minutes and replaced by Calum Chambers and this was perhaps in order to manage his game.

He should be unleashed against Brentford and in the top flight this term, the right-back has registered two

goals and an assist, showcasing his attacking skills in the process.

CB – Pau Torres

Prior to their final group stage tie, Torres had played just one minute of Conference League football, and it looked

as though Clement Lenglet would once again come into the starting XI.

The 26-year-old was given his first start of the group stage, however, and

he recorded a pass success rate of 91% while winning 100% of his aerial duels.

He will retain his place against Brentford and the former La Liga star is becoming one of the finest players at the club.

CB – Diego Carlos

Although the Brazilian will probably start in the starting lineup for the road

match this weekend, Ezri Konsa was given the go-ahead in midweek.

 

Carlos has started the last four Villa Premier League games, and throughout

that time, the team has only let in three goals.

Alongside Torres, the former Sevilla defender can keep Brentford at bay this weekend and help the club secure another league win.

LB – Alex Moreno

With Lucas Digne suspended for the clash against Brentford, it looked as

though Alex Moreno would be rested in midweek in preparation for the tie this

weekend, but Emery unleashed him from the start on Thursday evening.

He netted the winner in the previous European clash but didn’t have quite the same impact against Zrinjski, and he will

need to improve against Thomas Frank’s men on Sunday afternoon.

RM – Moussa Diaby

The French winger made his first start since the previous European clash

against Legia Warsaw in November and was deployed out on the right wing.

 

He succeeded with 50% of his attempted dribbles and had a 97% pass success during his spell on the pitch, and

although he didn’t score or grab an assist, his performance indicates that he

deserves a first league start since the match against Tottenham Hotspur.

CM – John McGinn

This season, the Scot has spent a lot of time playing on the left side of midfield. However, with Douglas Luiz out this weekend due to suspension, Emery might put him back in a more central position.

 

Throughout 2023–24, McGinn has started all but two of Villa’s 25 games, solidifying his place in Emery’s starting lineup.

He assisted Nicolo Zaniolo’s goal against the Bosnian side on Thursday evening, and he could cause plenty of damage from a central role against the Bees.

CM – Boubacar Kamara

Another player who was given a rest for the continental clash and this ensures he will be raring to come tomorrow afternoon.

 

Kamara has firmly established himself as one of Emery’s standout performers and the only match he has missed in the top flight this season was against Bournemouth and that was due to a suspension.

The 24-year-old will slot in alongside McGinn for the trip to London, and he will be hoping for another excellent showing.

LM – Nicolo Zaniolo

The Italian has endured a tough start to life in the Midlands as he failed to score

and grab an assist during his first 17 matches for the club.

 

That run came to an end against Zrinjski as he slotted home the opener and while the match finished 1-1, the goal will

surely have given him plenty of confidence to chip in with a few more

goal contributions between now and the end of the year.

AM – Youri Tielemans

While the Belgian is typically a central midfielder, Emery has utilised his skills

slightly further forward during the wins over City and Gunners and this is a tactic he will be keen on using again tomorrow.

He even grabbed an assist against the current Premier League champions and Emery will be hoping he can replicate

that performance when they face Brentford on Sunday.

ST – Ollie Watkins

The Englishman was given a much-needed rest during the recent European

tie and this will make him hungry for goals tomorrow.

 

Jhon Duran stood in for him on Thursday and he had two shots on target along with succeeding with one dribble

attempt, but he will make way for Watkins to come back into the starting XI

The £130k-per-week striker was dubbed “unstoppable” by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher last season and having netted 13 goals and chipped in with eight assists during the current season, he will strike fear into his former team on Sunday afternoon, without a shadow of a doubt.

Aston Villa’s predicted starting XI vs Brentford in full (4-4-1-1) – GK – Emiliano Martinez; RB – Matty Cash, CB – Pau Torres, CB – Diego Carlos, LB – Alex Moreno; RM – Moussa Diaby, CM – John McGinn, CM – Boubacar Kamara, LM – Nicolo Zaniolo; AM – Youri Tielemans; ST – Ollie Watkins