Aston Villa host Sunderland at Villa Park on Sunday looking to tighten their Champions League grip at Villa Park.
- The Villans hold a seven-point cushion in the race for the top five
- Sunderland have won their last two Premier League games and want three in a row
- John McGinn has been involved in five goals in his last six home league appearances
- Villa have never lost to a newly promoted side under Unai Emery in the Premier League
Villa flying on two fronts
The mood around Villa Park has transformed dramatically since that 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford in mid-March. Four wins from five across all competitions, including Thursday’s commanding 4-0 victory over Bologna that sealed a 7-1 aggregate triumph and a Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest, has repositioned Emery’s side as genuine contenders on every front.
Sunday’s focus shifts entirely back to the league, however. Seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea with six games remaining, the Spanish manager knows that victory would move the club one significant step closer to confirming Champions League football.
Furthermore, Chelsea host Manchester United on Saturday and the Merseyside derby also takes place on Sunday, meaning at least two rivals will drop points before Villa even kick off.
Sunderland are no pushovers. Emery’s one concern
The Black Cats arrive at Villa Park in genuinely impressive form. Regis Le Bris’ side have accumulated ten points from their last five Premier League games, beating Leeds United, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur along the way.
They have conceded just three goals during that run, the third-best defensive record in the division across that period.
Historically, Sunderland have never won at Villa Park in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory in January 2011 and they are winless in their last six away league visits against the Villans.
Nevertheless, the north-east club’s 46 points this season already represents their best Premier League tally since 2010-11. They are dangerous and motivated, and Emery will demand full focus.
McGinn the key: Villa’s captain delivers at home
One statistic above all others demands attention ahead of Sunday.
The Scotland captain has been directly involved in five goals across his last six Premier League home appearances for Villa: three goals and two assists in an outstanding recent run.
Villa’s win rate with the 31-year-old in the starting XI stands at 58% this season, compared to just 25% without him. His presence is non-negotiable.
Villa must seize the moment
Seven points. Six games. Champions League football within touching distance. Villa’s form, their home record, and the fixture list all point in one direction on Sunday.
The Villans have never lost to a newly promoted side under Emery and this weekend is no time to start.
