Prediction and odds for the game: Aston Villa (9/4) vs Leicester (23/20)
We are backing the draw at odds of 5/2
When: Sunday, 21st February 2021, Kick-off 14:05
Where: Villa Park
On Sunday afternoon, Aston Villa host Leicester at Villa Park, as both teams look to secure a potentially vital win in the race for the European spots in the Premier League.
Aston Villa
The Villans are enjoying a strong campaign in the English top-flight. Dean Smith’s team have launched an unlikely bid for European football for next season. Villa may be six points adrift of sixth-place Liverpool, although the reigning champions have played two more games than the team from the Midlands.
The home team’s recent form in the top-flight has been highly inconsistent, as they have claimed just two wins in their last five league outings. The Villans have picked up a win and a draw in their last two league matches against Arsenal and last time out Brighton. The draw against the latter saw Villa record a second straight clean sheet in the Premier League. In fact, they have now kept clean sheets in three of their last four league games.
Villa have been relatively strong on home soil of late in the English top-flight, winning three of their previous five league matches at Villa Park. The key to their decent recent home form in the top-flight is clean sheets, as they have kept clean sheets in four of their previous five league matches on home soil.
Leicester
The Foxes find themselves well-placed in the Premier League table to secure Champions League football for next season. Brendan Rodgers team are third and four points clear of the fifth-place in the English top-flight. The visitors will be wary of complacency after being in a similar position last season, only to finish in fifth and outside the Champions League spots.
A goalless draw against Slavia Prague last time out in the last-32 of the Europa League means that Leicester are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions. The Foxes recent record in the English top-flight proves their durability, as they have suffered just one defeat in their previous 11 games in the English top-flight.
Leicester are undefeated in their previous seven league outings on the road, although three of the previous five away games have resulted in draws. Their recent away games on their travels have been tight and not produced many goals, with under 2.5 goals scored in five of their last six games.
Conclusion
This Midlands derby could have major implications on the top-six situation in the English top-flight this season. This could be a close encounter and we are backing the draw, as we just can’t choose between the pair. The other bet we recommend is under 2.5 goals, as Villa have been relatively solid in defence of late, while Leicester’s recent away matches have been low-scoring in the top-flight.
Verdict: We are backing the draw at odds of 5/2 and/or under 2.5 goals scored at odds of 11/10. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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Who will come out on top in this Midland’s derby?
