Brighton vs Aston Villa Prediction: bet365 Bet Builder Preview

Scott Thornton brings you his Brighton vs Aston Villa predictions, team news, lineups and fixtures preview ahead of the weekend’s Premier League action.

Unai Emery’s side are looking to strengthen their grip on a place in next season’s Champions League when they take on an out-of-form Brighton side. The Seagulls have struggled in recent weeks and face another difficult challenge here.

---

1. Brighton vs Aston Villa Tip 1: Aston Villa To Win
2. Brighton vs Aston Villa Tip 2: Both Teams To Score & Over 2.5 Goals
3. Brighton vs Aston Villa Tip 3: Ollie Watkins To Assist A Goal

Bet365 bet builder odds: 11.00

---

Brighton vs Aston Villa Prediction 1: Visitors To Pick Up Three Points

England, Premier League, Sunday, May 5th, 14:00 (UK)

It’s been the rise and rise of Aston Villa since Unai Emery took over as head coach last season. The club are still in with a chance of lifting the Europa Conference League. They are also on course to finish above Tottenham in the race for the top four. Emery’s men beat Brighton 6-1 when the sides went head-to-head at Villa Park earlier in the season. Villa won’t have home advantage this time around but they have the quality to get the job done at the Amex Arena.

Brighton are short on confidence coming into this clash. They are without a win in their last seven games. The poor form has seen them drop to 12th in the table. The decision to sell a number of key players last summer has undoubtedly weakened the team and they have struggled as a result. The Seagulls have won just six of their last 28 Premier League matches.

Aston Villa have been good on the road in 2024. They have lost just one of their seven league matches in that period. That solitary loss came against Manchester City at the Etihad.

• Brighton vs Aston Villa Prediction 1: Aston Villa To Win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.20
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

---

Brighton vs Aston Villa Prediction 2: These Clashes Usually See Goals

Despite failing to hit the heights of last season, Brighton have remained a potent attacking force. Roberto De Zerbi’s reputation doesn’t seem to have suffered through this rough patch for the Seagulls. He has been mooted for a number of top jobs this summer and his commitment to attacking football is a big part of that.

Brighton are averaging 1.75 goals per home game this season and are conceding 1.44. Both teams have scored in 12 of their 16 Premier League matches at the Amex Arena. Injuries have played their part in the dip in form but they should have come success against Aston Villa’s high defensive line.

Goals have also been plentiful in Aston Villa’s away matches. Those have seen an average of 3.14 goals, with Unai Emery’s side scoring an average of two per game. They scored two at the Emirates in their last match on the road so they are capable of breaking down even the most study of defences. Our bet for this match has won on the last three occasions that these sides have gone toe-to-toe.

• Brighton vs Aston Villa Prediction 2: Both Teams To Score & Over 2.5 Goals 
• Best Odds: 1.70
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10

---

Brighton vs Aston Villa Prediction 3: Watkins to Conjure Up Some Chances

It’s been a remarkable season for Ollie Watkins and we are backing him to continue his rich vein of form by finding the net against Brighton on Sunday. The striker is in contention to be named PFA Player of the Year and it’s easy to see why when looking at the numbers.

Watkins is the focal point in attack for an Aston Villa side that are averaging 2.09 goals per game in the league. He has scored 19 goals and assisted a further 12 in 34 league matches. His non-penalty xG of 0.48 per 90 minutes means he ranks in the 79th percentile when compared with all other forwards across the top five leagues. However, it’s the assists market we are focusing on here.

The England striker has been a huge creative presence. He is averaging 2.92 shot-creating actions per 90. Watkins is averaging 0.32 assists per 90 minutes played in the Premier League, which suggests he should register one every three matches. Therefore, his odds of 4.50 for an assist with bet365 appeal.

• Brighton vs Aston Villa Prediction 3: Ollie Watkin To Assist a Goal (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 4.50
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 5/10

Brighton vs Aston Villa  Prediction odds via bet365 as at 08:40, May 1st, 2024. Odds may now differ.

---

Brighton vs Aston Villa Team News and Possible Lineups: Long List of Absentees For Both

Some key players have returned for Brighton but their injury list remains extensive. They will be without Van Hecke, Estupinan and Lamptey in defence this weekend. Solly March could return to the squad in time. Ferguson and Mitoma are absent from the attacking unit. James Milner is also an injury doubt.

Aston Villa face Olympiacos midweek so there could be some tired legs here. Martinez was brought off in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea and may not be fit to man the net here. Zaniolo, Ramsey, Morena, Kamara, Mings and Buendia round off a lengthy list of players that Emery will not be able to call upon. Youri Tielemans could be fit to return.

Brighton possible starting lineup:V erbrugeen; Offiah, Dunk, Julio, Barco; Grosß, Gilmour, Pedro; Buonanaotte, Adingra, O’Mahony

Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Olsen; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digna; Bailey, Tielemans, Luiz, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins

---

Match OPTA Stats: Aggregate Score Not So Pretty On The Coast

• Brighton and Hove Albion have lost their last five Premier League matches against Aston Villa by an aggregate score of 14-3. The Seagulls last suffered six defeats in a row against a side between 2019 and  2022 against Man Utd.
• Having won their last five against Brighton, Aston Villa are looking to register six consecutive Premier  League wins against an opponent for the first time since between 2005 and 2010 against city rivals  Birmingham.
• Aston Villa won 6-1 in this season’s reverse Premier League fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion – they last netted more than six against an opponent in 2020-21 vs Liverpool (8), while their most goals  against an opponent in a season is 10 against Wimbledon in 1994-95.
• Brighton have lost their last two Premier League games by an aggregate score of 7-0. The Seagulls last  lost more in a row in the competition in March 2022 (run of 6 – the third of which was at home to Aston  Villa), while they last conceded 3+ goals in three successive league matches in October 2011 as a  Championship side.
• Aston Villa have led by 2+ goals in each of their last four Premier League games, but have only gone on to  win two of them, drawing 3-3 with Brentford and 2-2 with Chelsea last time out (2-0 v Arsenal, 3-1 v  Bournemouth in the others).
• Since Brighton began their maiden European campaign in this season’s UEFA Europa League in  September, they have won just seven of 29 Premier League matches (D11 L11). They would be 15th in a  Premier League table in this time (since September 21st); they had started this season with four wins in  their opening five league matches (L1) before their first Europa League match.

---

Brighton Fixtures: The Seagulls’ Woes Could Continue

• Vs Newcastle (A)
• Vs Chelsea (H)
• Vs Manchester United (H)

Aston Villa Fixtures: Emery Chasing More European Success

• Vs Olympiacos (A)
• Vs Liverpool (H)
• Vs Crystal Palace (A)

---

Safer Gambling

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.