As the FA Cup action heats up this Friday at 8pm GMT, Aston Villa will be looking to dodge a potential banana skin against Cardiff City. The Welsh side has already shocked Stoke City and upset a promotion-chasing Sheffield United, proving they’re a force to be reckoned with in this year’s competition.
Cardiff’s manager, Omer Riza, previously a forward at Arsenal and West Ham, is under no illusions about the challenge his team faces. Speaking ahead of the clash, Riza remarked on the wealth of talent in the Villa squad, noting the need for his side to be strategic and careful in possession. “We need to make sure we’re not easy to break down,” he emphasized. “When we get the ball, we’ve got to be smart about it.”
Villa, a club that claimed the FA Cup way back in 1957 and reached its finals in 2015, aren’t strangers to the pressures of such competitions. They’ve built some home momentum, unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions, including a convincing win over Spurs. Manager Unai Emery, however, tempers expectations, focusing on a competitive spirit. “We’re not the favorites here,” he admits, eyeing the competition as a potential gateway to Europe alongside the Premier League and the Champions League campaigns.
On the team news front, Villa has a few injury concerns. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and key defenders Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres, along with midfielder Amadou Onana, are questionable. Winger Donyell Malen is sidelined by illness, while Matty Cash faces a fitness test. Conversely, Cardiff might field key players like Callum Robinson and Anwar El Ghazi, potentially squaring up against their previous club, Villa.
For projected lineups, Villa might start Olsen in goal guarded by defenders like Garcia and Konsa, while Cardiff’s lineup could feature Horvath guarding the net with support from the likes of Chambers and O’Dowda.
For fans eager to catch the action, the match will be broadcast live on ITV1 with streaming available on the ITVX app starting at 7:30pm. The Villa side, gearing up for a Champions League clash four days later, might not be at full strength. Emery has prioritized the European run, making room for surprises. However, Cardiff, burdened by their own league survival battles, might find it tricky to mount a major upset.
Villa should have an edge, given Cardiff’s recent away record and defensive vulnerabilities. A projection of a 3-1 victory for Villa could allow them to build on their rebound from a tough defeat to Crystal Palace earlier in the week.
