Sunderland vs Aston Villa 2025/26 Premier League Bet Builder & Predictions
Sunderland vs Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon presents a fascinating Premier League encounter between a side strong at home and a team desperate to kick-start their season. Our football betting expert predicts a tight affair, forecasting a Sunderland win, under 2.5 goals, and for both teams not to score.
Team News and Context
Sunderland come into this fixture with confidence on home soil, having won both of their opening Premier League matches at the Stadium of Light. Their overall form has been mixed with two wins and two losses, but their performances in front of their own fans have been impressive, scoring five goals and conceding just one.
The Black Cats will be looking to build on their hard-fought goalless draw away at Crystal Palace last weekend. There are some injury concerns for manager Régis Le Bris, with Romaine Mundle, Leo Hjelde and Dennis Cirkin all sidelined. However, there is hope that Daniel Ballard and Luke O’Nien may be fit enough to feature.
Aston Villa, in stark contrast, have endured a difficult start to the campaign and are still searching for their first win and their first goal (they scored midweek in the cup, but lost on penalties after a 1-1 against Brentford).
Unai Emery’s side sit 19th in the table with just two points from their opening four matches. They have played out two goalless draws, against Newcastle and Everton, and suffered defeats to Brentford and Crystal Palace.
The Villans’ struggles in front of goal are a major concern, and they will be without a number of key players for the trip to the North East. Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia, and Boubacar Kamara are long-term absentees, while Jacob Ramsey and Youri Tielemans are also expected to miss out.
Recent Form and Previous Weekend Recap
Sunderland’s last outing was a solid 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, a result that will have pleased manager Régis Le Bris. Goalkeeper Robin Roefs was the star of the show, making a number of key saves to earn his side a valuable point on the road. Prior to that, they secured a 2-1 victory over Brentford in their last home fixture.
Aston Villa also played out a goalless draw in their most recent match, holding Everton at Goodison Park. It was another frustrating afternoon for Villa’s attacking players, who were unable to find a way past the Everton defence. Their last home game was a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Head to Head and Current Standings
Historically, this has been a fixture that Aston Villa have had the better of. In 33 meetings since 1996, Villa have won 13, Sunderland have won 7, and 13 have ended in a draw. In the last five encounters, Villa have won three, with one win for Sunderland and one draw. The last time these two sides met was in the Championship in March 2018, with Aston Villa running out 3-0 winners at the Stadium of Light.
As it stands, Sunderland are 7th in the Premier League table with 7 points from their four games. Aston Villa are languishing in 19th place with just 2 points.
Key Players to Watch
For Sunderland, the creative spark is likely to come from new signing Granit Xhaka, who has impressed with his energy and leadership in midfield. Wilson Isidor will be a threat up front, having scored twice from the bench already this season.
Aston Villa will be heavily reliant on Ollie Watkins to find his goalscoring touch. The England international has yet to get off the mark this season but remains their most potent attacking threat. In midfield, John McGinn’s work rate and tenacity will be crucial if Villa are to gain a foothold in the game.
Match Prediction and Betting Tips
Given Sunderland’s strong home form and Aston Villa’s struggles in front of goal, a home win seems the most likely outcome. Villa’s injury list will also be a major factor, with several key players unavailable. It is expected to be a cagey affair, with goals at a premium.
Our football betting tips for Sunderland vs Aston Villa are:
Sunderland to Win (5/2): The Black Cats have been formidable at the Stadium of Light and will be confident of overcoming a goal-shy Aston Villa.
Under 2.5 Goals (10/11): With Villa yet to score this season and Sunderland not being prolific, a low-scoring encounter is anticipated.
Both Teams to Score – No (19/20): Aston Villa’s attacking woes make it unlikely they will find the back of the net in this fixture.
Sunday’s clash at the Stadium of Light will be a real test of Aston Villa’s resolve as they look to get their season up and running. Sunderland, on the other hand, will see this as a golden opportunity to continue their impressive start to the season at home.
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