Aston Villa welcome League Two side Stevenage to Villa Park on Sunday, bidding against them to make it to the fourth round of the FA Cup. The hosts will come into the match on the back of a 1-1 derby draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, so they will be looking to produce a better result in this weekend’s encounter.
Unai Emery will probably shift to a 4-3-3 formation and is expected to make a host of changes to the first XI as he looks to give opportunities to others on the bench to express themselves.
4-3-3 Aston Villa Predicted XI Vs Stevenage
Defence
Robin Olsen could be given the opportunity to operate in goal for his side hoping to keep a clean sheet as he features from the start. Calum Chambers will function alongside Jan Bednarek at the heart of Villa’s backline as they try to keep the opposition attackers at bay throughout the game.
Matty Cash will operate in the right-back position while Ludwig Augustinsson operates on the opposite flank. Both of them will get forward and join in on the attack while keeping a solid defensive shape at the back to stop the opposition from creating too many chances from the wide areas.
Midfield
Leander Dendoncker will anchor the midfield for Unai Emery’s side as he remains confident in dominating the opposition at the centre of the park.
The talented Dennis Zakaria will operate as a central midfielder, being a part of the Villans’ attack. All three of them will have to find a way to create some decent chances in front of the goal.
John Mcginn will have to settle for a spot on the bench as he was seen clutching his hamstring in the previous encounter.
Attack
Phillipe Coutinho and Kadan Young will operate on the left and right side of the attacking third as both of them look to create meaningful opportunities down the middle.
Danny Ings will lead the charge for the Villans as he will fancy his chances of finding the back of the net against the opposition’s defence.
Ollie Watkins will have to be content with a place on the bench and might come on to influence the game in the final quarter of the match if the West Midlands club are in need of a goal by then.
