ALEX JONES (@AlexJ0nes9) analyses the odds as Aston Villa host Man Utd in the Premier League on Sunday.
Aston Villa vs Manchester United | Sunday 9th May 2021, 14:05 | Sky Sports
So, it’s now three games in five days for Manchester United as they travel to Aston Villa to kickstart a busy week.
They ran out victorious in their semi-final ties with Roma despite losing in the Italian capital on Thursday. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could ring the changes here, as they have Leicester to play on Tuesday – which could be crucial in the race for a top four spot.
I think we can predict that Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Marcus Rashford will start. It will probably be in central midfield and the striker spot where United will rotate.
Given the shake-up Solskjaer might opt for I like the look of Both teams to score here. United have seen BTTS in 19/33 and 10/17 away games. Villa have seen BTTS in their last five games and in 16/33 overall.
The Villans have only failed to score in four home games this season, and at Villa Park have notched against the division’s best defences: Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, Brighton and Leicester (yet to play United or Chelsea at home).
The reason I like BTTS here is because in the seven United away games both sides didn’t score, three were in Big 6 games where the stakes were higher, and the goals have been sparse all season in the big games. United have conceded in 5/9 away games to bottom half sides.
4/6 is too short to put up but adding each side to earn at least a yellow card makes it 6/4 in the Bet365 Bet Builder. To take both sides netting from a 4/6 wager to a 6/4 wager, simply by adding both teams to collect a card, seems too big to turn down.
Referee Chris Kavanagh has brandished at least one card to both sides in 13/19 Premier League games this campaign. The whistle blower has given both sides a card in 3/3 United games he has refereed this term, as well as the only Villa game he refereed.
Aston Villa games have seen both sides carded in 23/33 (70%) of games, whereas Man United are even better at 24/33 (73%). Despite no Jack Grealish in recent times, Villa’s opponents have still averaged 1.5 cards per game, earning 2+ cards in 7/10 games in his absence.
What’s more, is that the Manchester based official (no allegiance to United) averages 3.11 cards per game, giving 2+ cards in 17/19 games, 3+ cards in 12/19 and 4+ cards in 6/19.
Best Bets
Aston Villa vs Manchester United – Both Teams To Score and Both Teams Over 0 Cards (6/4 Bet365)
