The Round 8 match of the group stage of the 2025/26 Europa League between Aston Villa (England) and Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) will take place on 29 january at Villa Park in Birmingham. Aston Villa vs Red Bull Salzburg: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa, despite having played their last two group-stage matches away, handled their opponents on their grounds without much difficulty. They first beat Basel 2:1 and then defeated Fenerbahçe 1:0. As a result, the club's winning run in this European competition grew to four matches. In the group standings the hosts sit in second place, losing top spot to Lyon only on goal difference. The home side have not only secured qualification for the knockout stage but have qualified directly for the round of 16 of the tournament.
- In the Europa League the hosts have won 6 of 7 matches (1 defeat).
- Exactly two or three goals were scored in five of Aston Villa's previous six matches in this competition.
- The hosts scored exactly one or two goals in all seven matches in this tournament.
Potential Aston Villa Lineup (4-5-1)*
Marco Bizot – Victor Lindelöf, Lucas Digne, Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings – Emiliano Buendía, Jadon Sancho, Lamar Bogarde, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans – Ollie Watkins.
Midfielders John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara and Ross Barkley are out with injuries.
Red Bull Salzburg
Red Bull Salzburg took on Basel at home in the previous round and beat the Swiss side 3:1. It was only their second victory in the current group stage, while they lost the other five matches. With six points the team sit in 28th place and are two points off the qualification zone. To still make the knockout stage, Red Bull Salzburg need not only a win in England but also defeats for nearby rivals that could potentially finish in the top 24.
- The visitors' run in the Europa League stands at 10 matches (3 wins and 7 losses).
- On the road in this competition Red Bull Salzburg have lost their last 8 matches.
- The team conceded at least two goals in seven of their previous eight away games in this European competition.
Potential Red Bull Salzburg Lineup (4-2-3-1)*
Alexander Schlager – Frans Kratzig, Kuaku Gadu, Yannick Schuster, Tim Trummer – Soumaila Diabaté, Max Bidstrup – Kerim-Sam Alaibegović, Sota Kitano, Edmund Baidoo – Yorbe Vertessen.
Referee
Rohit Saggi (Norway)
Matches – 13 (International matches, 2024/25–2025/26);
Yellow/Red Cards Shown (Including Second Yellows) – 57;
Average Yellow/Red Cards Per Match – 4.4;
Straight Red Cards Shown – 4;
Fouls Per Match – 27;
Penalties – 31%.
Aston Villa vs Red Bull Salzburg: Match Prediction
These opponents head into the final round with different tournament objectives. The hosts have nothing to play for, having already qualified for the round of 16 of the Europa League. The visitors, however, still retain a slim chance of reaching the top 24 and will try to put in a strong performance. Therefore we suggest paying attention to goals from both sides in this game.
The home side certainly will not finish the match without finding the net. Even if Aston Villa field a rotated squad, they are likely to score at least once. In the current group stage the hosts have scored in all seven matches. Red Bull Salzburg have no option but to try to play on the front foot and attempt to score against the hosts, especially since Aston Villa will be without tournament motivation. It is also worth noting that the visitors scored in four of their previous five matches in this European competition.
Prediction: Both teams to score
* For each team the starting lineup is from their previous match in this tournament.
