On Sunday, February 1st, 2026, Villa Park will host a critical Premier League clash as Unai Emery’s high-flying Aston Villa welcome Keith Andrews’ ambitious Brentford.
The match, scheduled for a 14:00 GMT kick-off and broadcast live on Sky Sports, brings together two of the season’s most compelling stories.
Villa, defying expectations, are locked in a surprising title race, sitting just four points behind leaders Arsenal and tied on points with Manchester City in third.
Meanwhile, Brentford are firmly in the hunt for European qualification from eighth position, having lost just one home game this season.
With both teams showing resilience and ambition, this fixture promises tactical intrigue and a battle of wills that could significantly shape the top-half landscape of the league.
Head-to-head
The historical record between these sides is remarkably balanced, setting the stage for a closely-fought contest. Across 17 competitive meetings since 2016, Aston Villa has secured four victories to Brentford’s five, with a notable eight matches ending in a draw.
The goal difference is equally narrow, with Villa having scored 24 times against Brentford’s 23.
Recent trends: Villa holds a slight psychological edge from recent league encounters, having taken four wins and two draws from the last six Premier League meetings.
Home fortress: Villa Park has been a challenging venue for Brentford. In eight visits, the Bees have managed just two wins, with Villa winning six.
Current season: Their last meeting in August 2025, at the Gtech Community Stadium, ended in a 1-0 victory for Brentford, a result Villa will be eager to avenge.
Team news and injury concerns
Both managers face significant selection headaches as they navigate injury crises, which will heavily influence their tactical setups.
Manager Unai Emery is grappling with a severe midfield shortage. Key players Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Boubacar Kamara are all ruled out due to injury. First-choice goalkeeper Emiliano MartÃnez is also a doubt with a calf issue.
On a positive note, the returns of Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz from injury provide a much-needed boost. Luiz, in particular, is expected to slot back into the midfield to help shore up an area severely depleted by absences.
The Bees are dealing with their own setbacks. January signing Kaye Furo was replaced on the bench last weekend by Jordan Henderson, who has been recovering from an ankle injury.
Defender Ethan Pinnock and midfielder Josh Dasilva remain unavailable.
Predicted lineups
Based on the latest team news and recent selections, here is how the two sides are expected to line up.
Aston Villa (predicted 4-2-3-1): MartÃnez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Onana; Sancho, Rogers, BuendÃa; Watkins.
Key features: The likely return of Douglas Luiz could see him start in place of Lamare Bogarde, adding experience to the injury-hit midfield. Ollie Watkins will lead the line against his former club, with creative support from Jadon Sancho and Morgan Rogers.
Brentford (predicted 4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Ajer, Henry; Yarmoliuk, Janelt; Jensen, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago.
Key features: Manager Keith Andrews may opt for consistency, keeping faith with the 4-3-3 shape used recently. The attacking threat will revolve around Igor Thiago, the league’s second-top scorer, supported by the industrious Kevin Schade and set-piece specialist Mathias Jensen.
Match prediction and key tactical battles
Prediction: Aston Villa 3 – 1 Brentford
While the head-to-head history is tight and Brentford won the reverse fixture, Aston Villa’s formidable home form and superior league position make them strong favorites.
Villa have won eight of their 11 home league games this season, making Villa Park a fortress. Brentford’s away record is less convincing, with just three wins from 11 matches on the road.
The game will likely be decided in two key areas:
1. Villa’s Depleted midfield vs. Brentford’s press: Can Villa’s patched-up central pairing of Onana and Bogarde or Luiz control the game and withstand Brentford’s energetic press?
2. Watkins vs. Thiago: A showdown between two strikers in excellent form. Ollie Watkins has five goals in his last six Premier League games, while Igor Thiago has 16 league goals this season. Whichever forward gets better service will likely tip the balance.
Betting tips and insights
For those looking at the betting markets, several trends stand out.
Aston Villa to win: Given their strong home record and need to keep pace at the top, Villa are a solid pick for the win.
Ollie Watkins to score anytime: The England striker is in fine form and has a strong record against his former side, making him a prime candidate to find the net.
Over 2.5 total goals: This selection is supported by both teams’ attacking styles and seasonal averages. Aston Villa’s matches average 2.6 total goals, while Brentford’s average 2.9. Their head-to-head matches also average nearly 2.8 goals per game.