Aston Villa look to make it back-to-back Premier League victories on Saturday evening, visiting AFC Bournemouth in their penultimate away trip of the season.
Unai Emery's side returned to winning ways last weekend with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Fulham, thanks to Youri Tielemans' early header.
And the Villans now look to continue a perfect start to May against the Cherries and maintain their push for Champions League football in 2025/26.
Villa currently sit three points off the top five places in the table with three games to go, with Bournemouth one place and seven points behind them.
Saturday's hosts have enjoyed an impressive campaign under Andoni Iraola, and are unbeaten in five games, having come from behind to win 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal last weekend.
Stats
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has been directly involved in five goals in his four Premier League starts against Bournemouth (1 goal, 4 assists), with his four assists against the Cherries his most against any opponent.
Evanilson has been directly involved in six goals in his last eight Premier League appearances for Bournemouth (5 goals, 1 assist), more than he had in his first 20 beforehand (5 goals).
Antoine Semenyo has been directly involved in three goals in his last four Premier League games for Bournemouth (2 goals, 1 assist). His two goals have put the Cherries 1-0 up in their last two home games (v Fulham and Man Utd), while his assist came just two minutes after coming off the bench against Arsenal last time out.
Bournemouth have had more shots following a high turnover than any other side in the Premier League this season (65). Their 65 shots and eight goals from high turnovers this term are their most in any of their eight top-flight campaigns.
Bournemouth have scored more goals in second half stoppage time than any other team in the Premier League this season (8), while only Southampton (10) have conceded more than Aston Villa in this time (8).
After a run of just six wins in 21 Premier League games between September and February (D9 L6), Aston Villa have now won seven of their last nine (L2).
Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last four Premier League games against Bournemouth (W2 D2), having lost four in a row against the Cherries before this.
Bournemouth have won seven of their 13 Premier League games against teams starting the day above them in the table this season (D3 L3), the highest win rate of any side to play more than one such game this term (54%).
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games (W2 D3), having lost four of their previous five beforehand (D1). Following their 2-1 win at Arsenal last time out, the Cherries are looking to win consecutive league games for the first time since January.
Bournemouth lost 1-0 at home to Aston Villa in their first ever Premier League match in August 2015. Since then, the Cherries are unbeaten in three at home to the Villans, scoring exactly two goals in each (W2 D1).
The Last Meeting
Villa succumbed to a stoppage time equaliser at Villa Park in October, as the spoils were shared with a 1-1 draw in the last meeting between these two sides.
Unai Emery's side were frustrated for large parts of a cagey affair by the Cherries' stubborn backline, but eventually breached the visiting defence with what they thought was a winner, Ross Barkley scrambling home from close range for his first goal since returning to the club in the summer.
But 96 minutes were on the clock when Marcus Tavernier swung a free-kick into the area and Evanilson glanced a header into the far corner, to ensure Iraola's men would make the long trip back down south with a point.
Team News
Unai Emery will be without Youri Tielemans, after confirming the midfielder will miss the weekend having picked up a muscular injury.
Marcus Rashford will also remain sidelined, having missed Villa's last two outings with an injury.
Andoni Iraola will be without Dango Ouattara, who sustained an abductor injury at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. He joins longer-term absentees Ryan Christie (groin), Enes Ünal (knee) and Luis Sinisterra (thigh) in the treatment room.
Club captain Adam Smith could make his 400th appearance for the Cherries, should he feature at the Vitality.
Managers' Pre-Match Thoughts
“The coach, Andoni [Iraola], is really doing a fantastic job. They have very good players, talented players. Massive respect, tough match for us, we have to try to get our best, focusing everything, minute one to minute 90.”
Unai Emery
“If we want to make them suffer, we have to play like the big teams do at home [against them] and this is not easy. They have been a little bit better than us [in previous matches against them] but we have been quite competitive. We need to change some things to close the gap.”
Andoni Iraola
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