English Premier

2026-02-21 - Aston Villa vs Leeds United

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Aston Villa v Leeds United
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 21st February 2026 - Kick Off 3pm

Aston Villa

The first half sending off changed the game for Aston Villa in the FA Cup Fourth Round and Marco Bizot is probably still trying to work out exactly what he was doing in the fixture against Newcastle United. Rushing out of his goal, Bizot was sent off with seconds remaining of the first half and Aston Villa were not able to hold onto a 1-0 lead at Villa Park as another route to silverware was closed this season.

Unai Emery has had a full week to work with his players, which has been rare for clubs involved in one of the top two UEFA run competitions, and he will be looking for a positive reaction. In the main he has gotten that from his Aston Villa team when suffering setbacks and the team remain 3rd in the Premier League table and 6 points clear of Chelsea in 5th as they look to continue the chase for Champions League Football. The Villans have a 9-1-3 record in front of the home fans this season.

Aston Villa have struggled for some consistency of late and they have won 1 of the last 4 games in all competitions, although that was in the last Premier League game played at Villa Park. Prior to that, the side had suffered consecutive home defeats to Everton and Brentford, but Aston Villa edged past Brighton 1-0 in the most recent League game played here.

Marco Bizot is suspended, but would likely have given up his place to Emi Martinez anyway. Matty Cash is a doubt, while both John McGinn and Youri Tielemens are just focusing on returning somewhere around the March international break.

Leeds United

Penalties were needed to take Leeds United through to the FA Cup Fifth Round and the draw has given them a big opportunity to reach the Quarter Final of that competition for the first time since 2003. However, the main focus for Daniel Farke and his players is to make sure Leeds United consolidate their position in the Premier League having returned at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

A change in formation has led to a change in fortune and Leeds United have dragged themselves up into 15th place in the Premier League table, but there are still only 6 points between themselves and the relegation zone. They have been ticking points over in recent weeks, although Leeds United will be travelling to the West Midlands with a 1-5-7 away record in the top flight.

Leeds United have lost 1 of the last 7 games in all competitions and have bounced back from that thumping home loss to Arsenal by picking up 4 points from fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Chelsea. The side fought back from 2-0 behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge and that results means Leeds United have lost 1 of the last 8 away games played in all competitions.

Pascal Struijk, Anton Stach, Daniel James and Noah Okafor will all face late fitness tests to determine availability.

Head to Head

Leeds United scored very early in the first half when hosting Aston Villa earlier this season, but it was the away team who stormed back in the second half to win 1-2 at Elland Road.

Aston Villa had not won any of 3 home games against Leeds United, including in a fixture they had led 3-1, but snapped that run when beating this opponent 2-1 in January 2023.

Prediction

Another Premier League weekend is set to feature some important fixtures at the top and bottom of the Division.

This one has an impact on both ends of the standings when Aston Villa host Leeds United in what could be a fun fixture for the neutral to enjoy.

Daniel Farke has to be given a lot of credit for his pragmatic approach to how he wants his Leeds United team to set up- his previous formation and tactics were going nowhere and Farke was a favourite to be Sacked back in December, but the manager switched at half time in a game at the Etihad Stadium and Leeds United have not looked back.

About the only criticism you could have is that they have not turned enough draws into wins, which means Leeds United are still looking over their shoulders with 6 points between them and an improving West Ham United in the relegation zone.

The team showed plenty of character in fighting back and earning a 2-2 draw at Chelsea in the last Premier League game played, but it has been more challenging for Leeds United away from Elland Road.

And in reality, Chelsea had more than enough chances to win that game, including a glaring miss from Cole Palmer that would have given the hosts a late lead.

Leeds United will come forward and cause problems for an Aston Villa team that have just struggled for some consistency over the last three month.

Unai Emery's team have still picked up some big results, but they were dumped out of the FA Cup at Villa Park last Saturday and that means they have lost 3 of the last 4 here. That includes a couple of Premier League defeats to Everton and Brentford, but Aston Villa were unfortunate in the latter of those defeats and looked to be on top of Newcastle United before Marco Bizot's huge mistake at the end of the first half.

There is some depth in the Aston Villa squad and they will be hugely encouraged by the chances that Leeds United have been allowing.

It would surprise no one if the visiting team had an impact in the match, but a week between games is a rare moment for Aston Villa to just reset and recover and it should make the hosts that much more dangerous. The team are still going through something of a sticky patch, but the quality in the final third may just give Aston Villa the edge and they can pick up the three points in a game that features chances at both ends of the pitch.