Southampton vs. Aston Villa Tips and Odds – 12/04/2025

• Fixture: Southampton vs. Aston Villa
• Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
• Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Match Preview

Southampton’s relegation to the Championship was confirmed last weekend after their 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, marking a historically poor Premier League season. With just two wins and four draws from 31 matches, the Saints sit bottom of the table with a mere 10 points. Their defensive struggles have been glaring, conceding 74 goals—the most in the league—while scoring only 23. Following their relegation, manager Ivan Jurić departed the club, leaving interim boss Simon Rusk and former player Adam Lallana to oversee the remaining fixtures. Southampton’s morale is at rock bottom, but they will aim to restore some pride in front of their home fans against Aston Villa.

Aston Villa, on the other hand, are enjoying a stellar campaign under Unai Emery and are firmly in contention for European football next season. The Villans currently sit sixth in the Premier League table with 51 points and have won seven consecutive matches across all competitions. Their most recent victories include a 3-0 triumph over Brighton on April 2 and a hard-fought 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest on April 5. Villa’s attacking firepower has been key to their success, with Ollie Watkins leading the line alongside Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers. Their defense has also improved significantly, keeping clean sheets in four of their last six games.

The head-to-head record heavily favors Aston Villa, who have won their last four Premier League encounters against Southampton without conceding a single goal. The most recent meeting between these sides saw Villa edge out Southampton with a narrow 1-0 victory in December 2024. Given Southampton’s dismal form and Villa’s momentum, this fixture appears to be a mismatch on paper.

Team News: Injuries and Suspensions

Southampton:
The Saints have no new injury concerns but remain without several squad members due to long-term issues:

• Ross Stewart (fitness), Juan Larios (fitness), and Will Smallbone (unspecified injury) are unavailable.

Aston Villa:
Villa’s injury list is more concerning:

• Emiliano Buendía (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Jacob Ramsey (toe), Matty Cash (calf), and Youri Tielemans (groin) are ruled out for the remainder of the season.
• Leon Bailey remains doubtful due to a knock sustained recently.

Key Players

Southampton:

• Paul Onuachu: The Nigerian striker has scored four goals this season and remains Southampton’s most reliable attacking outlet despite limited service.
• Joe Aribo: A versatile midfielder who has contributed three goals this season and could provide creativity in the final third.

Aston Villa:

• Ollie Watkins: Villa’s talisman has been in sensational form this season with 13 goals and eight assists across all competitions. His movement and finishing make him a constant threat.
• Marcus Rashford: Since joining Aston Villa, Rashford has added pace and dynamism to their attack, scoring seven goals in just 20 appearances.
• Morgan Rogers: A breakout star for Villa this season with eight goals and six assists, Rogers provides an additional creative spark alongside Watkins.

Prediction

This match is likely to be one-sided given Aston Villa’s form and Southampton’s struggles throughout the season. Villa’s attacking trio of Watkins, Rashford, and Rogers should exploit Southampton’s fragile defense with ease. Meanwhile, Southampton’s lack of confidence and inability to score consistently suggest they will struggle to mount any serious challenge.

Predicted scoreline: Southampton 0-3 Aston Villa.

Betting Markets

Given Aston Villa’s dominance and Southampton’s defensive frailties, betting on “Villa to Win” or “Over 2.5 Goals” appears safe. For higher returns, “Correct Score: Aston Villa 3-0” is worth considering.