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Manchester United vs Aston Villa Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction

Date: May 25, 2025 Venue: Old Trafford Kickoff Time: 17:00 What an underwhelming season it has been for Manchester United. The Red Devils have struggled throughout the campaign and will look to at least end off on a winning note. Aston Villa, on the other hand, are facing stiff competition from Newcastle, Chelsea, and Manchester City in a race to secure Champions League qualification. However, European football is guaranteed next season. This fixture weighs heavily on the shoulders of Unai Emery, as the Spaniard seeks to guide Aston Villa to compete in Europe’s elite competition for the second season in succession on the final day.

Marc Strydom
Marc Strydom

Last Updated: 2025-05-22

Chad Nagel

7 minutes read

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Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, reacts during the Premier League match.jpg

Unai Emery/Getty Images

The iconic Old Trafford Stadium will take centre stage one last time when Manchester United look to finish the season strongly as they host Champions League contenders Aston Villa in the season finale on 25 May 2025. In October last year, these two teams shared the points in a goalless draw, but since then, a lot has transpired over the last seven months, making this an intriguing matchup to witness. For Premier League fans eager to cash in on the final day, be sure not to miss out and check the best football betting sites. 

Pre-Game Odds & Win Probability

  1. HOME: 27/10 (3.70) – 27%

  2. DRAW: 57/20 (3.85) – 26%

  3. AWAY: 23/25 (1.92) – 52.1%
    Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change.

Head-To-Head Record

Last five meetings (Premier League)

  1. 06/10/2024: Aston Villa 0-0 Man United 

  2. 11/02/2024: Aston Villa 1-2 Man United

  3. 26/12/2023: Man United 3-2 Aston Villa 

  4. 30/04/2023: Man United 1-0 Aston Villa

  5. 06/11/2022: Aston Villa 3-1 Man United

Manchester United Current Form – LDLLL

Ruben Amorim may have experienced the worst season in his managerial career since taking charge of Manchester United in November. This has been an uphill battle for the Portuguese all season long, however, Amorim has an impressive track record and is known for his expansive style of football, which made him the number-one candidate to bring back the glory days for the Red Devils. 

Time and patience are required from United fans to allow the former Sporting manager to make this team his own and achieve success.
The last five games prove how bad the situation is at United and will need a major overhaul to get things back to how they were. They come into this fixture on the back of three consecutive defeats and no wins in the last eight matches.

Rasmus Hojlund saved the day against Bournemouth with his 90th-minute equaliser, a match they could have lost, which would have seen them register five defeats ahead of this fixture. There is no hiding behind the fact that this United team have struggled, but they will need to come out guns blazing to give their fans a positive send-off.

Key Players To Watch

Bruno Fernandes: Fernandes is the man keeping everything together at United, and if it weren’t for him, things would be a lot worse. The Portuguese has played the second-most minutes for his team this season and has the most goal contributions with eight goals and ten assists. His passing range, vision, and creativity are key elements to his game, which have been crucial for his team in times of need. 
Amad Diallo: Diallo has had a massive impact this season for United, but injuries have significantly held back his progress. His direct style of play and ability to take on defenders in one-on-one situations make him a threat in the final third. Despite missing a large number of games, Diallo has still scored seven goals and provided six assists. 
Alejandro Garnacho: Garnacho has also been an important figure for the Red Devils, providing a different dimension to their attack. His speed and skill allow him to run at defenders with pace and navigate his way through tight spaces. He offers a good outlet for United on attack and is often the first player to drive the team forward in quick transitions. Additionally, Garnacho makes his presence felt in attack as the young talent has scored six goals and provided three assists. 

Manchester United Team News

Defensively, United have suffered a significant setback, as Diogo Dalot (calf), Leny Yoro (foot), and Matthijs De Ligt could all miss this fixture while they continue to recover. Lisandro Martinez (ACL) is not expected to return until next season, and Joshua Zirkzee is also scheduled to return next season after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Aston Villa Current Form – WLWWW

Unai Emery's journey as Villa manager since 2022 has been nothing short of extraordinary, driving a remarkable transformation. Emery’s meticulous attention to detail and tactical brilliance have turned Villa into a formidable force. His adaptability in strategies against diverse opponents, combined with a relentless pursuit of defensive strength and attacking flair, is truly inspiring.

Villa have been in remarkable form coming into this final fixture of the season. A convincing 4-1 victory over Newcastle displayed their attacking prowess, but a narrow defeat against Man City dealt them a minor setback. 

The chase for Champions League qualification was on, and an immediate reaction was required, which they delivered as Emery’s men registered three consecutive victories, showing their true class under the Spaniard's leadership. This is a must-win fixture, and Emery will demand nothing less than maximum points from his team.

Key Players To Watch

Ollie Watkins: Watkins has been the talisman for Villa this season. He is exceptionally quick and uses his blistering pace to outsmart defenders, putting himself in prime goal-scoring positions. Despite his speed, he also possesses impressive strength, allowing him to hold off opponents and excel in physical duels. Over time, he has honed his finishing skills, with 16 goals and eight assists proving his importance to his team. 
Morgan Rogers: Rogers is a dynamic and powerful runner with the ball, frequently driving through the centre of the pitch with both strength and speed. His ability to advance the ball and challenge defenders makes him a formidable threat. Originally a left winger, Rogers has been successfully converted into a central attacking midfielder or support striker under Emery's guidance.
Jacob Ramsey: Ramsey is also an excellent runner with the ball. He uses his speed and close ball control to navigate his way through the field. His enthusiasm brings a different energy to Villa’s attack when he is on the field, as the young talent is capable of creating scoring opportunities out of nothing. 

Aston Villa Team News

Youri Tielemans will miss this final fixture due to an injury strain, and Marcus Rashford, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury, is ineligible to feature anyway against his parent club. 

Predicted Line-Ups

  1. Man United: 4-2-3-1: A. Onana, N. Mazraoui, V. Lindelof, H. Maguire, L. Shaw, M. Ugarte, Casemiro, A. Garnacho, B. Fernandes, A. Diallo, R. Hojlund

  2. Aston Villa: 4-3-3: E. Martínez, M. Cash, E. Konsa, T. Mings, I. Maatsen, A. Onana, B. Kamara, J. McGinn, M. Asensio, M. Rogers, O. Watkins

Suggested Bets

By selecting a sportsbook that provides a generous welcome bonus, football fans can create a foundation for a rewarding betting experience. 

  1. Aston Villa to Win: Villa’s Champions League hopes rely heavily on this fixture, and Unai Emery will want nothing less than maximum points. 23/25 (1.92) with Betway.

  2. Total (Over 2.5): With United’s poor form and Villa’s attacking threat, goals will be scored on the day. 33/50 (1.66) with 1xBet.

  3. Aston Villa To Score In Both Halves (Yes): Villa will be relentless in attack and will look to take advantage of United's poor form, especially with what is at stake for Villa. Get on at 31/20 (2.55) with Stake.
    You can learn more about the platform in our detailed Stake review.

Value Bets

By mastering essential sports betting strategies and tips, you can confidently place informed bets that provide you with a decisive advantage over the bookmaker.

  1. Aston Villa To Win To Nil: This could be a tough fixture for United, especially coming off a demanding Europa League final. 11/4 (3.75) with N1Bet.

  2. Anytime Goalscorer – Marco Asensio: Asensio has come in and had a direct impact since joining Villa. His quality on the ball and clever runs into the box make him a constant threat. 7/4 (2.75) with BetWinner.

  3. First Half (Aston Villa Over 1.5): United have been struggling all season, and if Ruben Amorim rotates his squad, it could make things a lot more difficult as Villa will come out with a full-strength lineup to win. 39/10 (4.9) with Bettilt.

Prediction: Aston Villa to Win

Aston Villa have everything still to play for, and with results falling in their favour in other matches, this is a must-win for Unai Emery. Villa are largely the favourites to win this fixture and rightly so as they will come out and take advantage of United’s vulnerabilities.
 

Marc Strydom
Marc StrydomSports Writer

Marc Strydom is a dedicated sports lover with a wealth of experience in the sports betting industry, mostly as a Chief Editor of a sports betting publication in South Africa. While Marc’s enthusiasm covers many sports, football and NBA are his favourites. His articles feature on multiple top-rated platforms, covering a wide range of topics.

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