Preston vs Aston Villa prediction: ENGLAND: FA Cup betting tips on match 2025-03-29 12:30.
[p]As the only Championship side left in the FA Cup, the odds are stacked against Preston North End as they seek to progress to the final four of football’s oldest competition for the first time since losing in the 1963/64 final. Currently languishing in mid-table in the second tier, the Lilywhites have the opportunity to maintain hope of a truly memorable campaign if only they can knock out Premier League outfit Aston Villa.[/p]
[p]Doing so seems unlikely given that Preston have not beaten any top-flight team in this competition since defeating the Premier League’s worst-ever side, Derby County, in 2007/08. Paul Heckingbottom’s men have at least got a home draw though, just as they received in all three previous rounds of this season’s edition as they eliminated lower-league opponents Charlton Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers before outclassing rivals Burnley 3-0 in the last round.  [/p]
[p]Aston Villa arrive at Deepdale full of confidence as they remain in the UEFA Champions League and in contention to play in Europe again next season courtesy of their position in the Premier League. Unai Emery has overseen a four-game winning run ahead of this match – three of which were accompanied by clean sheets – which stands Villa in good stead to emerge victorious from an FA Cup quarter-final for the fifth straight time, though they haven’t done so since 2015. [/p]
[p]One factor which may concern the Villa faithful is an away draw, as they have won just once in their last nine such FA Cup games (D2, L6). Granted, that win was a 1-0 success against Championship side Middlesbrough, but with no replays and nine draws in Villa’s last 15 H2Hs overall against Preston (W5, D9, L1), the possibility of extra time and penalties cannot be discounted. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Emil Riis is Preston’s leading Championship scorer this season with ten goals, and while he hasn’t netted in a cup competition since 2021/22, four of his last five strikes have come at home. Morgan Rogers caught Emery’s eye while playing against Villa for Middlesbrough last term and scored decisively in two of the last three FA Cup rounds. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Preston have lost 18 of their last 19 FA Cup games against top-flight opposition. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]