Aston Villa v Crystal Palace: key stats and talking pointspublished at 12:06
12:06
Noel Sliney BBC Sport senior journalist
Winless, goalless and guileless, Aston Villa now face their nemesis. Under Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their five meetings against Villa, winning four and scoring 16 times.
The Eagles are the last visiting team to win at Villa Park in any competition, doing so in the League Cup last October, and twice led their hosts in the league three weeks later before being held to a draw. A 4-1 home victory for the Eagles in the reverse fixture was followed by a 3-0 Wembley rout of their passive opponents in the FA Cup semi-final.
Eberechi Eze, who opened the scoring that day, has departed but it's Palace pair Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta who have haunted Aston Villa over the years. Since the start of the 2020-21 season, they have both been directly involved in nine goals against Villa in all competitions – no Premier League player has a better record during that period.
Villa manager Unai Emery has tried various tactical tweaks, including switching to a back three, in a failed attempt to address Villa's struggles against Palace. In the past five games between the sides, Palace have only averaged 38% possession but hurt Villa repeatedly on the break.
Among teams Palace have faced at least three times under Glasner, they have attacked Villa the quickest on average and scored the most goals per game.
It is well documented that financial restrictions have hindered Villa's attempts to strengthen the squad this summer. Nonetheless, the players they have are capable of performing far better – nine of the starting XI in each of their opening two matches were part of the side which thrillingly defeated Paris Saint-Germain in April's Champions League quarter-final second leg at Villa Park.
A lack of pace, width and intensity so far has strengthened calls for £26m new recruit Evann Guessand and January signing Donyell Malen to start as Villa seek to avoid going four top-flight matches without scoring for the first time since April 2016.
They could benefit most, though, from Youri Tielemans dropping back into central midfield because of injuries to Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana. Tielemans, the club's player of the 2024-25 season, has started the current campaign in the No.10 role but his press-resistance and range of passing from a deeper position has been sorely missed.
Emery on squad fitness, 'improving' his squad and a 'poor' startpublished at 16:52 29 August
16:52 29 August
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Villa Park (19:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Emery provided a fitness update when asked about Boubacar Kamara who was withdrawn early through injury in last weekend's defeat at Brentford: "We will see tomorrow, I don't want to anticipate. We have some players injured but I will want to train tomorrow and see how we can use the players in the squad for Sunday. Until tomorrow, the last training session, I don't want to say anything."
He said Villa are still "busy" in the transfer market: "We are involved in it the last days, because we have to try to improve our squad. We need to try and switch some players, they left, like [Jacob] Ramsey and Leon Bailey. We need now to try to join some players in our squad."
Can Sunday kickstart Villa's season after a draw and defeat in their opening two league games? "Our start this season has been poor. One point from six, and of course, even being unbeaten at home, we are again remembering how we lost last year, points at home, drawing a lot of matches in a row. We want to be unbeaten and we want to be strong at home."
On the challenge posed by Palace, who beat Villa 3-0 in last season's FA Cup semi-final: "Especially how we performed against them the last two years, I think it's really a huge challenge we will have. I am excited, motivated, and I want to try to show as well our capacity against them. Last year we couldn't beat them, and of course because they are performing fantastic."
What does he expect from the Eagles? "My expectation is again when we are with the ball they are going to push up, they are going to get a lot of man to man. They are very, very dangerous in transition. We have to stop the transition. We have to try to dominate, but being well organised always with the ball, even without the ball."
🎧 Listen to Aston Villa Dailypublished at 16:41 29 August
16:41 29 August
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Aston Villa learn Europa League opponentspublished at 12:29 29 August
12:29 29 August
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa's Europa League draw is complete and Unai Emery's side now know which eight clubs they will meet in the 36-team league format, which was used for the first time last season.
The Europa League fixture list will be released no later than Sunday, 31 August.
Watch and follow Europa League and Conference League draw livepublished at 11:53 29 August
11:53 29 August
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There are two Premier League teams in this season's Europa League and one in the Conference League.
Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are about to find out the eight teams they will face in the league phase of the 2025-26 Europa League, while Crystal Palace will learn their six opponents for the league phase of the Conference League.
Gossip: Villa close to signing Asensio permanently published at 07:31 29 August
07:31 29 August
Aston Villa are close to signing forward Marco Asensio on a permanent deal from Paris St-Germain after the 29-year-old Spain international impressed while on loan at Villa Park last season. (L'Equipe - in French), external
North Stand redevelopment given green lightpublished at 12:51 28 August
12:51 28 August
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Villa Park's North Stand will be
Aston Villa's proposals to expand the North Stand at Villa Park have been approved.
Birmingham City Council's planning committee gave the expansion plans the green light on Thursday.
The project would take the capacity to around 50,000 and is due to be finished in the second half of 2027.
The plans include adapting and modernising the existing North Stand, rather than demolishing it, meaning the club will not lose any capacity while the work is ongoing.
Around 6,000 seats will be added to the stand - increasing it to over 12,000.
West Midlands mayor Richard Parker has also committed to updating Witton Station, with the club hoping to see more higher-capacity trains to cater for about 10,000 fans on a matchday.
The redevelopment of the stand and area was viewed as essential with Villa Park due to be a host venue for Euro 2028, without the work the club would have needed to consider pulling out.
The council has estimated the tournament would generate around £190m for Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Iling Jr poised for loan movepublished at 09:33 28 August
09:33 28 August
Nick Mashiter Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa midfielder Samuel Iling Jr is expected to leave on loan before Monday's transfer deadline.
The England Under-21 international, who won Euro 2025 with the Young Lions in the summer, has been given the green light for a temporary move.
Iling Jr is yet to make a senior appearance for Villa since joining from Juventus last summer and was an unused substitute in the opening day 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
He spent time at Bologna - playing against Villa in the Champions League - and Middlesbrough last season.
The 21-year-old started his career at Chelsea before moving to Juve in 2020, where he played 45 times, scoring twice, and won the Italian Cup in 2024.
'An unusually tense moment in Villa's recent history'published at 16:44 27 August
16:44 27 August
Mike Taylor BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Interesting contributions to the debate over financial restrictions, in so far as they affect clubs in Aston Villa's specific circumstances, continue to roll in - a sure sign that the football so far has not been engaging.
But as fan writer David Michael observed in a bracing piece on this page on Tuesday, simply pointing at the rulebook will not quite do as an explanation for Villa's slow start.
The net spend on transfer fees since Unai Emery's arrival may be low, but it isn't true to say new players have not arrived. That calculation does not include Villa's notably high wage bill, for example, or the loans for high-profile players like Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio. Alas, many of the signings made in that time have so far had relatively little effect on the team.
In each of the first two games, the majority of Villa's starting line-up have been at the club for longer than Emery. Given they are mostly the same players to have achieved so much under him, that reflects very well indeed on the manager and his staff, and how much they have improved the players in their charge.
What it says about Villa's recruitment is more complicated. Clearly there have been enormous successes, with Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans top of the list. But many new players have stayed on the fringes, or been shipped back out after scarcely being seen at all.
This analysis may become outdated very quickly. It is entirely possible players like Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen could become regular and effective starters before long.
Monchi, the key man in Villa's recruitment, has an outstanding reputation from his work at Sevilla. Emery indicated recently that expected departures have taken longer than planned, and Villa have the means and skills to move fast in the final days.
And, of course, players who have performed so well, so often for Emery could soon click back in to gear.
There have been only two games. A good performance at home against Crystal Palace on Sunday would have a useful calming effect in advance of a two-week pause.
But the stumbling start makes this an unusually tense moment in Villa's recent history.
Some of you felt the development seemed to have gone quiet despite the club's recent success on the pitch, but the upgrade could move a step closer this week.
Birmingham council's planning committee will consider the North Stand redevelopment proposals as Villa look for the green light to revamp the stadium.
The redevelopment will increase the capacity to over 12,000 in the North Stand and upgrades to the other stands would edge Villa Park's capacity to over 50,000.
The planned work should be completed in the second half of 2027, meaning it will be ready before Euro 2028, with the ground due to be a venue.
The plans include adapting and modernising the existing North Stand, rather than demolishing it, meaning the club will not lose any capacity while the work is ongoing.
West Midlands mayor Richard Parker has also committed to updating Witton Station, with the club hoping to see more higher-capacity trains to cater for about 10,000 fans on a matchday.
Without that, Villa would not be able to go ahead with the project and would need to reassess whether they could be a Euro 2028 host venue.
'Villa's issues aren't down to regulations - they're down to decisions'published at 09:24 26 August
09:24 26 August
David Michael Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Do you really think Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Uefa wage ratios are solely responsible for Aston Villa's sluggish start to the season?
Bar Emi Martinez's suspension for Newcastle United and Ezri Konsa's for Brentford, the only change to the side in the opening two games to the one that beat Paris St-Germain in last season's Champions League quarter-final second leg, was Ollie Watkins starting instead of Marcus Rashford. This is a strong team - and should be playing like one.
Yes, there are big-picture concerns regarding PSR and Uefa wage caps limiting clubs challenging the top six. But let's be honest, they also exist to protect clubs from themselves.
Since Unai Emery arrived, Villa have had six transfer windows. Of all the arrivals, only Morgan Rogers (£8m initial fee) and Youri Tielemans (free transfer) have been unqualified successes. The jury is still out on £50m record signing Amadou Onana.
Meanwhile, close to £100m has gone on Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand - all benchwarmers so far. Malen and Guessand were brought in to potentially play on the right side, yet this season Emery has persisted with left-footed John McGinn there, disrupting the team's balance and fluidity.
For a side now with reportedly the 12th-highest wage bill in Europe (10th last season) - above both Newcastle and Tottenham – the toothless display against a Brentford team mid-transition, having lost their manager and key players, wasn't about PSR. It was about a team being too predictable, and lacking cohesion and quality.
Supporters had to accept higher prices in the name of PSR compliance, but after seeing how money has been spent, naturally patience thins.
Fans don't want spin. They want a return on their hard-earned cash and at least decent performances.
At the moment, Villa's issues aren't down to regulations - they're down to decisions.
'Villa are being 'hampered' by PSR rules published at 11:19 25 August
11:19 25 August
Media caption,
'It's not sitting right' - How do Villa handle PSR situation?
Aston Villa and Newcastle United supporters chanted together at Villa Park on the opening weekend of the season. They wanted to make their shared feelings known about the Premier League's financial restrictions.
Those supporters, more than any other in the division, feel they have been the victims of the competition's profit and sustainability rules, which they claim protect the 'big six.'
The coarse language deployed left no doubt about their views, and Villa's away fans aired their frustrations again as the team's shaky start to the season continued with a 1-0 defeat by Brentford on Saturday.
Former England striker Alan Shearer said on BBC Match of the Day that Villa are being "hampered" by the rules.
"PSR doesn't sit well with me in terms of what they can and can't spend. Emery has had six windows and they've made a £10m profit," Shearer said.
"PSR wasn't brought in for this situation when they have an owner with money – like Newcastle."
Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:09 25 August
08:09 25 August
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brentford and Aston Villa.
Here are some of your comments:
Brentford fans
Ronnie: Brentford played very well. Strange to think this was the same team that looked like they had forgotten how to play at Nottingham Forest. Wasn't pretty at times but the four changes really strengthened the team and great to see Dango Ouattara get his first Brentford goal. Come on, you Bees!
Barry: Nathan Collins was Captain Marvel against Villa. I lost count of the number of headed duels he won. Without him at the back there would have been a different result.
Sarnj: Great game at the Gtech. Brentford played more as a team at home. Kayode, Damsgaard, Henderson, Collins and the rest all got stuck in. They made Villa look average.
Aston Villa fans
Martyn: It's basically the same Villa side that performed pretty well last season and yet two games in they look like a beaten team before a ball is kicked. Rogers has lost the plot and can only assume he's being affected by some of the transfer noise. As good as Emery is, it's all so predictable - he never has a plan B and we desperately need some fresh faces before the window closes. Early days but it's not looking good.
Kevin: Disappointing. The difference between the two performances this season and how we ended last season is night and day - and that difference is Rashford and Asensio.
Allan: You should not be 'disappointed' by the result. That implies that the Villa performance deserved better. It didn't. Villa got what they deserved - nothing. Emery should be disappointed with the performance. Wake up, Emery!
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 11:34 24 August
11:34 24 August
Pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Sautrday's Premier League fixtures.
Stale Villa leave Emery with much to ponderpublished at 18:11 23 August
18:11 23 August
Timothy Abraham BBC Sport Journalist
Image source, Getty Images
In contrast to Brentford's direct and up-and-at-them style Aston Villa were largely subdued at the Gtech Community Stadium - leaving Unai Emery with much to ponder.
When faced with a wall of Brentford players, Villa frequently passed the ball sideways or backwards.
Morgan Rogers fired just wide after a counter-attack, while Caoimhin Kelleher saved a low shot from John McGinn before the break.
But Villa had only two shots on target and most of their efforts were speculative at best.
Without real panache or intensity, Villa's endeavour in the final third – set-pieces aside - was snuffed out too easily by the Bees.
If you include the final game of last season, Villa have now gone three Premier League matches without scoring for the first time since July 2020 under Dean Smith.
They last failed to score a single goal across their opening two matches of a top-flight season in the 2002-03 campaign.
In truth, this all felt a little stale, considering Villa finished sixth last season, a whisker away from a Champions League spot.
They need new forward Evann Guessand, who showed a couple of nice touches on his debut, to get up to speed quickly.
Emery will also surely have his eye on at least one more new face to freshen things up before the transfer window closes on 1 September.
Image source, Getty Images
