The race for the top five is going down to the final weekend in the Premier League, with Aston Villa one of the teams in contention.
Realistically, they need a win to remain in with a chance of Champions League football. Manchester United, who will be absent from continental competition next term, are their opponents. Can Villa get the job done?
Manchester United vs Aston Villa best bets
Man Utd vs Villa odds
Find the latest Manchester United vs Aston Villa betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.
Manchester United vs Aston Villa predictions
It is now official: this has been Manchester United’s worst season since they were relegated from the top tier in 1973/74.
United have been dismal in the Premier League, but they had the chance to salvage something from an otherwise miserable campaign in the Europa League.
Ruben Amorim’s side were favourites to win the final of that tournament against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.
A victory would have brought United a trophy as well as a place in next season’s Champions League. It was a massive night for Amorim, his players and the club as a whole.
United failed. It was a poor game in truth, but a goal from Brennan Johnson settled it in Tottenham’s favour. United will therefore be absent from the Champions League next term.
They will not be in the Europa League or Conference League either. Even if they were to beat Aston Villa on the final day, United cannot finish any higher than 14th.
More likely, according to the bookies, is a 16th- or 17th-place finish. Indeed, if Villa beat United and Tottenham avoid defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion, Amorim’s team would drop down to fourth-bottom.
It hardly needs saying how embarrassing an outcome that would be for a club with the second-highest wage bill in the division. It was bad enough that United finished eighth last term; 16th or 17th would represent a plumbing of depths that few thought possible.
Make no mistake: Amorim is under pressure. United have struggled throughout the post-Alex Ferguson era, but they have never sunk this low before.
Amorim inherited a dysfunctional team, but they have gone backwards on his watch. Remember, United were four points outside the top four when Erik ten Hag left in October.
There is little prospect of Amorim being replaced this summer, but he will need a good start to next season if he is to remain in the job beyond Christmas. This is a massive summer for United, and one which has been made harder following Wednesday’s defeat in Bilbao.
Aston Villa are in a much better position, although they need a favour from elsewhere to secure Champions League football.
In order to qualify, Villa need to beat United and hope one of Newcastle United (vs Everton) or Chelsea (vs Nottingham Forest) drops points.
1
Manchester United vs Aston Villa betting tips
Aston Villa should get the win they need to remain in the hunt for Champions League football.
Aston Villa to win
Aston Villa have done well to bounce back from their painful FA Cup semi-final defeat by Crystal Palace in April.
That setback could have taken the wind out of Villa’s sails, especially as they also exited the Champions League last month.
Instead, Villa rallied. Three consecutive victories have kept their Champions League hopes alive until the final day.
Unai Emery’s team have not even conceded a goal in their last three outings. There has been a real maturity and seriousness to their recent performances.
Given the state Manchester United are in, it is hard to see anything other than an away win.
⚽ Tip Aston Villa to win at 4/5 with SBK ⚽
Under 2.5 goals
As mentioned above, defensive solidity appears to have been Emery’s priority over the last few weeks.
Aston Villa struggled to contain Crystal Palace’s lively front three at Wembley, since when they have gone back to basics to an extent.
The plan has worked and Emery will push for more of the same when he takes his team to Manchester.
Their opponents have struggled in attack all season long. Manchester United have been outscored by all but the bottom three and Everton.
Villa might only need one strike to win this.
⚽Choose under 2.5 goals at 11/8 with Tote ⚽
Ollie Watkins to score any time
Marcus Rashford’s January arrival at Aston Villa from Manchester United gave Emery’s team another option in attack.
At one stage he seemed to have made himself first choice at centre-forward, relegating Ollie Watkins to the bench.
But Watkins has been heavily involved in recent weeks following a season-ending injury for Rashford, whose future remains up in the air.
Watkins’ numbers have dipped this year, but he is still one of the best all-round strikers in the division.
The England international will cause United’s backline plenty of issues this weekend.
⚽ Back Ollie Watkins to score any time at 6/5 with Paddy Power ⚽
📺 How to watch Manchester United vs Aston Villa
- Location: Old Trafford, Manchester, England.
- Date and time: Sunday 25 May, 4pm.
- How to watch: TNT Sports 1.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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