Aston Villa look to continue a five-match Premier League unbeaten run when they make a challenging trip to face Fulham on Saturday.
So far Villa have proven capable of earning league results while balancing the commitments of continental play. But the margins have been thin, with only one of Villa’s four league wins coming by multiple goals and manager Unai Emery’s side settling for draws in their last two PL fixtures.
Fulham saw their five-match league unbeaten run halted with a 3-2 defeat at Manchester City heading into the international break. But Marco Silva’s men arguably deserved at least a point from their effort at the Etihad, where they out-created the home side.
Villa have won the last three league fixtures between these sides, including 2-1 in their previous visit to Craven Cottage in February.
Let's dive into my Fulham vs. Aston Villa prediction.
Fulham vs. Aston Villa Odds, Picks, Prediction
| Fulham Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-0.5 +140 | 2.5 -145o / +115u | +140 |
| Aston Villa Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+0.5 +185 | 2.5 -145o / +115u | +185 |
- Fulham vs. Aston Villa moneyline odds: Fulham +140, Aston Villa +185, Draw +250
- Fulham vs. Aston Villa over/under: 2.5 goals (over -145, under +115)
- Fulham vs. Aston Villa pick: Yes, both teams to score and total under 4.5 goals
I am backinga same-game parlay of both teams to score and under 4.5 goals in Aston Villa vs. Fulham.
Fulham Preview
The eighth-place Cottagers may have failed to halt a long-running slide against City, but their performance in defeat should convince neutral observers that their strong start to the campaign is legitimate.
Raul Jimenez set up Andreas Pereira for an excellent opening goal in the 26th minute, and Jimenez was again the provider on an excellent chance for Adama Traore that could’ve leveled the game at 2-all in the 68th minute.
And Rodrigo Muniz’s late strike set the stage for some nervy final moments, not to mention getting the young Brazilian off the mark after his breakout during the back half of last season.
Perhaps that’s enough for Muniz to edge Jimenez for a start on Saturday, since the latter will be returning from a far flung international assignment with Mexico, The 33-year old scored one goal and assisted the other over 81 minutes in Tuesday’s 2-0 friendly win over the United States.
The loss marked the sixth consecutive match where Fulham have created more expected goals than their opponents. The last three of those have come against opponents currently in the top half of the table.
Aston Villa Preview
While Villa have so far earned good results both domestically and in the UEFA Champions League, perhaps there are signs that burden could eventually lead to an erosion of form.
The Villains have been out-created in terms of xG in their last three matches, including league games against newly promoted Ipswich and a sputtering Manchester United side.
But they also have something nearly every team in the world would envy in two in-form center forwards.
Ollie Watkins has four league goals as Emery’s starter, and Jhon Duran has another four scored entirely in the substitute’s role. Duran is developing a knack for scoring some bombastic goals, including match-winners in the 3-2 league victory over Everton back in September and 1-0 UCL win over Bayern Munich on Oct. 2.
One other promising detail for Villa: They’ve scored multiple goals in all five of their away matches in all competitions so far this season, while doing so only twice in five home fixtures.
Fulham vs Aston Villa Prediction
Villa being a slight underdog here may stand out at first glance, but given the home venue and the quality of Fulham’s performances I think the three-way line here is about right.
Where I see opportunity is in backing a trend that has cashed in every single Fulham home game and Villa away game thus far.
That’s a same-game parlay on both teams finding the net and the total staying beneath 4.5.
While these attacks are competent, they have yet to show the kind of explosiveness that makes a total above 4.5 goals feel like a serious threat. And the price of +101 and implied 49.8% probability is an upgrade of 83 cents on the straight yes – both teams to score wager.
