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Aston Villa Faces Nemesis in Manchester United

Red Devils Undefeated in Premier League

Manchester United’s last Premier League game featured a late winner and an even later penalty save to seal the game. When Aston Villa heads up to Manchester, the Red Devils will hope to take care of business early. 

Despite losing Jack Grealish for a British record transfer fee over the summer, Villa has kept pace in the Premier League. Away matches at Old Trafford have been Villa’s kryptonite, however, and Man U is a -245 soccer betting favorite to win.

Manchester United's Paul Scholes fights for the ball with Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg during their Premiereship clash at Old Trafford (Photo by PAUL BARKER / AFP)

Game: Manchester United FC vs Aston Villa FC

Location: Old Trafford, Manchester, England, U.K.

Date/Time: Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET

Head to Head

In the Premier League era, Manchester United is an astounding 37-3-12 vs Aston Villa. The Red Devils won both meetings last season by score lines of 2-1 and 3-1, respectively. 

Aston Villa last beat Manchester United in the Premier League in 2009, which was also its only win at Old Trafford in the Premier League era. 

Resilient Lingard Powers United

Attacking midfielder Jesse Lingard’s errant backpass was latched onto by Young Boys’ Theoson Siebatcheu, who finished past David de Gea. The goal sealed an improbable victory for the Swiss side over the Red Devils in the Champions League opener.

At the weekend, Lingard came on as a 73rd-minute substitute vs the club he spent time with on loan last season, West Ham United. Sixteen minutes later, Lingard atoned for his error. He cut inside on the left flank and curled an unstoppable effort past Lukas Fabianski, which won Manchester United the game. 

However, West Ham was awarded a penalty shot in the dying embers of the match, but De Gea heroically saved Mark Noble’s penalty to give the Red Devils all three points. United is unbeaten in the league and has 13 points, which is level with Chelsea and Liverpool for the Premier League lead.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s return has been a huge success for the Red Devils, as the Portuguese legend has four goals in three matches. With Edinson Cavani returning from injury soon, winger Jadon Sancho working his way into the side and talent like Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Bruno Fernandes, this United side could be special. 

Pogba already has a Premier League-leading seven assists through five matches and Man U has been one of the Premier League’s best soccer picks

Aston Villa’s Resounding Win

Many expected Aston Villa to just tread water following Grealish’s exit but this is still a side that is capable of results. Villa beat Everton 3-0 at the weekend with a scoring onslaught that lasted just nine minutes. 

Right back Matty Cash scored the opening goal in the 66th minute, while Lucas Digne’s own goal put Villa 2-0 up just three minutes later. In the 75th minute, substitute Leon Bailey scored his first goal for Villa after arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer. The 24-year old Jamaican winger is an exciting prospect but he did pick up a knock that could impact his status for this match. 

The result marked Villa’s second win; the other was a 2-0 defeat of Newcastle in matchweek 2. Villa is still looking for its first away victory as it lost 3-2 to Watford in its Premier League opener and fell 3-0 to Chelsea just a couple weeks ago.

Prediction

This match is an intriguing one for betting online, but the Manchester United moneyline at -245 doesn’t present great value. Man U has, however, scored nine goals in two previous home games and could pile on the goals here once again. 

While Ronaldo has been grabbing headlines, Fernandes already has four goals from midfield and Pogba has been a superb chance creator. Chelsea and Watford have already put three goals past Villa and I see no reason why United can’t do the same. Bet Manchester United over 2½ goals at +145 in the sportsbook

Pick: Manchester United Over 2½ Goals (+145)

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