2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: ASTON VILLA

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As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

2025-06-16T10:00:00.000Z

2025/26 OPPOSITION FOCUS: ASTON VILLA

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

2025-06-16T10:00:00.000Z

As we gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign we take a closer look at our opponents

Today we take a look at the Villans...

What's their history?

Villa were formed in 1874 and and celebrated their 150th anniversary earlier this year.

A legendary figure at the club, George Ramsay joined Villa in 1876 having seen a practice match taking place in Aston Park, and he became the club's first official manager in 1886.

Two years later, the Villans played a key role in helping to form The Football League and they won three league titles between 1894 and 1897.

Highly successful, particularly in the FA Cup, the Midlands-based outfit were one of England’s most recognisable clubs for decades, but were then relegated for the first time ever in 1936.

A revival followed however and after a barren few years, they would become the first team to win the Football League Cup in 1961.

Villa’s greatest success then came a year later, winners of the European Cup with a famous victory in the competition’s final against German Giants Bayern Munich.

Also winning the European Super Cup over two legs against Spanish side Barcelona, Villa had been on the up, but just five years after such a triumph, they were relegated from the top flight.

Instantly bouncing back, they would go on to remain in the top flight until 2016, narrowly beaten to the Premier League title by Manchester United in that period in 1992/93.

Three years in the Sky Bet Championship culminated in a play-off final victory over Derby County and Villa have remained in the Premier League ever since, with top-six finishes in the last two years under boss Unai Emery.

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Stadium

Villa Park is the historic home of Aston Villa, who moved into the 42,000 capacity stadium in 1897 and is still recognised as one of the most iconic grounds in English football.

Over the years, Villa Park has not only hosted countless Aston Villa seasons, but also major football events, including FA Cup semi-finals, England internationals, and matches during both the 1966 World Cup and Euro '96.

Football isn't the only sport that has featured at the stadium located in Birmingham, with Villa Park chosen as a venue for two 2015 Rugby World Cup fixtures, as well as hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Clarets have played at the historic venue over 50 times since the opening of the stadium back in 1897, with Burnley's last win there coming in May 2015.

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Last season

Following promotion back to the Premier League in 2019, last season was Villa's sixth consecutive campaign in the top-flight, after previously spending the last 28 years in the top-tier before being relegated in 2016.

It was also Villa's second consecutive season competing in Europe, after finishing 4th the year before and Unai Emery's side gave a fantastic account of themselves in the UEFA Champions League.

After beating the likes of Bayern Munich, Celtic, Club Brugge and RB Leipzig on their journey to the quarter-finals of the competition, the Midlands side eventually lost to winners Paris Saint Germain.

As well as enjoying a European cup run, Villa went on to reach the FA Cup semi-finals, but again lost out to the eventual winners Crystal Palace at Wembley.

In the Premier League, Emery's men came inches close to securing Champions League football once again, after missing out on 5th place on the final day of the campaign through goal difference, but their 6th place finish means they will compete in the Europa League and in Europe for a third successive season.

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Whos' the boss?

Unai Emery's tenure at Aston Villa began in October 2022, when he was appointed as the club's head coach, replacing Steven Gerrard.

After a challenging start to the 2022-23 season, Emery quickly turned things around, revitalizing Villa's form and steering them away from relegation danger when he joined to remarkably securing a 7th place finish, which sealed European football for the first time in over a decade.

In his first full season the following year, Emery then guided Villa to a 4th place finish and a place in the UEFA Champions League, which Villa hadn't played in since 1983.

Emery's success continued last season, after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League quarter-finals, as well as 6th place spot in the Premier League, which confirmed a third consecutive campaign of European football.

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Memorable meeting

27/01/2021 - Burnley 3 - 2 Aston Villa (Turf Moor)

Three second-half goals from the Clarets in a stunning comeback saw Sean Dyche's side secure a third consecutive win in the Premier League.

Trailing by a goal at the break through Ollie Watkins' 14th minute opener, the Clarets then turned their fortunes around with an excellent second-half performance.

Ben Mee headed home the equaliser for the hosts just seven minutes into the second-half, but Villa were then ahead once again in the 68th minute when Jack Grealish smashed in from close range.

However, two goals in four dramatic minutes saw Burnley go on to secure a fifth home win of the campaign, with Dwight McNeil playing a crucial role in both goals, after drilling home the first, the winger then crossed for Chris Wood to crash home the winning goal with just 10 minutes left on the clock.

Burnley: Pope Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters Brady (Gudmundsson 60), Westwood, Brownhill (Cork HT), McNeil, Wood, Rodriguez (Vydra 76).

Unused substitutes: Peacock-Farrell, Stephens, Bardsley, Long, Dunne, Benson.

Aston Villa: Martinez Cash, Ngoyo, Mings, Targett, Luiz (Davis 89), McGinn Traore (Trezguet 83), Barkley (El Mohamady 83), Grealish, Watkins.

Unused substitutes: Heaton, Taylor, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Engels, Ramsey.