Aston Villa host Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on May 3, 2026, in a Premier League fixture with major consequences at both ends of the table. Unai Emery's Villa enter the weekend fifth with 58 points, level with fourth-placed Liverpool and firmly involved in the race for Champions League qualification.
Tottenham's situation is far more urgent: Roberto De Zerbi's side are 18th with 34 points, two behind West Ham and facing the possibility of the club's first top-flight relegation since 1977. Villa also have a Europa League semi-final to consider.
They lost 1-0 away to Nottingham Forest in the first leg on April 30 and must overturn that deficit at Villa Park on May 7, creating a difficult selection decision for Emery between two important competitions. Tottenham, meanwhile, arrive with renewed belief after finally ending a lengthy Premier League winless run against Wolves.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham: Last 10 Matches
Aston Villa have dominated the recent competitive head-to-head record.
Across the 10 competitive meetings immediately before May 3, 2026:
Aston Villa wins: 7
Tottenham wins: 3
Draws: 0
Aston Villa goals: 15
Tottenham goals: 17
Total goals: 32
Average goals per match: 3.2
The previous 10 competitive meetings were:
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa — January 10, 2026, FA Cup
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa — October 19, 2025, Premier League
Aston Villa 2-0 Tottenham — May 16, 2025, Premier League
Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham — February 9, 2025, FA Cup
Tottenham 4-1 Aston Villa — November 3, 2024, Premier League
Aston Villa 0-4 Tottenham — March 10, 2024, Premier League
Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa — November 26, 2023, Premier League
Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham — May 13, 2023, Premier League
Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa — January 1, 2023, Premier League
Aston Villa 0-4 Tottenham — April 9, 2022, Premier League
Villa have therefore won seven of the previous 10 competitive encounters, including the last four in succession. Despite Villa's greater number of victories, Tottenham actually lead the goal count 17-15 because of their three emphatic wins during the sample.
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This Fixture Rarely Produces Draws
One of the most unusual statistics surrounding Aston Villa against Tottenham is the absence of draws. Before this match, none of their previous 21 Premier League meetings had finished level. Villa had won seven of those matches and Tottenham 14.
The previous 10 competitive meetings have also all produced a winner. That history makes this fixture very different from many games involving relegation-threatened teams, where avoiding defeat can become the priority. Recent Villa-Spurs meetings have tended to produce decisive results.
Villa Have Won the Last Four Meetings
The recent momentum in this rivalry belongs firmly to Villa. Their four-match winning sequence began with a 2-1 FA Cup victory at Villa Park in February 2025, when Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers scored before Mathys Tel pulled one back for Tottenham.
Villa followed that with a 2-0 Premier League victory in May 2025, then came from behind to win 2-1 at Tottenham in October. Rodrigo Bentancur gave Spurs an early lead in that October fixture, but Rogers equalised from distance before Emiliano Buendía scored the winner in the second half.
The clubs met again in the FA Cup in January 2026, with Villa winning 2-1 in north London through goals from Buendía and Rogers. Tottenham therefore arrive at Villa Park attempting to end a particularly poor run against Emery's side.
Aston Villa's Champions League Race
Villa's Premier League position remains strong despite recent setbacks. They entered the previous weekend fourth on 58 points before a 1-0 defeat away to Fulham allowed Liverpool to move above them on goal difference. That defeat was followed by another 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-final first leg.
Chris Wood's penalty gave Forest the advantage, while Emery was left frustrated by a challenge on Ollie Watkins that he believed should have resulted in a red card. Villa therefore enter the Tottenham fixture after consecutive 1-0 defeats. However, their position remains encouraging. They are level with Liverpool and still control a significant part of their Champions League fate with four Premier League matches remaining.
Emery Must Balance Europe and the Premier League
The Nottingham Forest second leg creates the biggest tactical question surrounding Villa's lineup. Villa need to overturn a one-goal Europa League deficit only four days after facing Tottenham. That makes rotation likely in at least some positions.
Players such as Tyrone Mings, Jadon Sancho, Ian Maatsen, Ross Barkley and Tammy Abraham provide Emery with experienced alternatives if he decides to manage the minutes of several regular starters. The challenge is that Villa cannot simply sacrifice the Premier League.
Finishing in a Champions League position remains one of the club's primary objectives, and dropping points against a relegation-threatened Tottenham side could prove costly.
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Ollie Watkins Remains Villa's Main Goal Threat
Ollie Watkins remains central to Villa's attack. He entered May as the club's leading scorer with 15 goals in all competitions and played the full 90 minutes against Nottingham Forest despite taking a heavy challenge during the Europa League semi-final. Watkins' movement should be particularly important against Tottenham.
De Zerbi's teams want to push their defensive line forward and compress the pitch. That can create opportunities for a striker capable of timing runs behind the centre-backs. Villa can also use Watkins as a central reference point before bringing Morgan Rogers, Buendía or Sancho into attacking combinations around him.
Morgan Rogers Has Hurt Tottenham Before
Tottenham know all about the threat posed by Morgan Rogers. He scored in Villa's Premier League victory in north London earlier this season and also found the net in the January FA Cup meeting. His ability to carry the ball through midfield could be particularly useful against De Zerbi's pressing structure.
If Tottenham commit several players to closing down Villa's buildup and Rogers can receive beyond that pressure, he has the physical power to drive directly towards the defensive line. That makes the space between Tottenham's midfield and defence one of the areas Villa will want to exploit.
Amadou Onana Is Out
Villa will be without Amadou Onana. The midfielder suffered a calf problem during the Europa League defeat at Nottingham Forest and was forced off early in the second half. Emery subsequently ruled him out of the Tottenham fixture.
The timing is particularly inconvenient because Villa are already missing Boubacar Kamara, who remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury. Losing both players reduces Villa's defensive strength in midfield. Youri Tielemans is likely to carry greater responsibility for controlling possession, while Lamare Bogarde and Ross Barkley are among Emery's other options.
Villa's Tactical Approach
Emery normally sets Villa up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2-based structure that can change substantially depending on whether the team has possession. Villa are comfortable inviting opponents forward before attacking the spaces behind them.
Against Tottenham, they should look to:
draw Spurs' press towards their defenders;
find Tielemans beyond the first pressure line;
release Rogers into central spaces;
use Watkins' movement behind the defence;
attack Tottenham's full-back areas quickly;
avoid losing possession cheaply when the defensive line is high.
The last point is particularly important against De Zerbi. Tottenham are likely to want a more possession-based game than most relegation rivals.
Tottenham Are Fighting for Survival
Tottenham's season has reached a remarkable position. The 2024/25 Europa League winners enter Matchday 35 in 18th place, two points from safety and still at genuine risk of relegation. De Zerbi became Tottenham's third manager of the season when he replaced interim coach Igor Tudor in late March.
His first three league games produced four points, including a crucial 1-0 win at Wolves that ended Tottenham's 15-match Premier League winless sequence. João Palhinha scored the decisive goal in the 82nd minute at Molineux. Tottenham remained in the bottom three after the victory, but the result prevented West Ham from opening a larger gap.
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De Zerbi Has Changed the Mood
Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has spoken positively about the impact De Zerbi has already made, particularly the confidence he has tried to restore to a squad that had spent months struggling for results. De Zerbi's message before Villa was similarly clear.
He wants Tottenham to remove the negativity created by their league position and concentrate on the quality still available within the squad. That psychological element could be important. Tottenham are not in a position where draws alone will guarantee survival. With four matches remaining, they need victories. Villa Park therefore represents a difficult but potentially valuable opportunity.
De Zerbi's Tactical Approach
De Zerbi is unlikely to completely abandon the football that made his Brighton teams distinctive. He wants his sides to build from the back, draw opponents towards the ball and then play through pressure. Kinsky said Tottenham's squad suits the type of football their new manager wants to implement.
Against Villa, Spurs could look to:
invite Villa's forwards into the press;
create spare players around the first buildup line;
use Rodrigo Bentancur to progress possession;
find attacking midfielders between Villa's lines;
press aggressively after losing possession;
attack quickly before Villa can restore their defensive shape.
The danger is obvious. Playing out under pressure against an Emery team can be risky because Villa are excellent at turning turnovers into direct attacking moves.
Xavi Simons Is Out for the Season
Tottenham suffered a major setback during the victory at Wolves. Xavi Simons ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. The injury removes one of Tottenham's most creative players at the worst possible stage of their survival battle.
Simons had begun to show increasing influence under De Zerbi and scored during the 2-2 draw against Brighton shortly before his injury. Spurs must now replace his creativity using players such as Mathys Tel, Randal Kolo Muani, Lucas Bergvall and Conor Gallagher.
Dominic Solanke Is Also Unavailable
Tottenham will also be without Dominic Solanke. The striker suffered a muscular injury during the Wolves victory and has been ruled out of the Villa Park trip. That is another major blow.
Without Solanke, De Zerbi must choose from options including Richarlison, Kolo Muani and Tel to lead the attack. Richarlison is Tottenham's leading Premier League scorer entering the fixture, making him a strong candidate to play centrally.
Tottenham's Injury List Remains Extensive
Simons and Solanke are only part of Tottenham's problems. Cristian Romero, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies and Wilson Odobert were all unavailable heading into the weekend, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was not yet ready to return after hernia surgery. There is some positive news.
Destiny Udogie is expected to be available again after missing the Wolves match, strengthening De Zerbi's options on the left. James Maddison is also progressing from his long-term knee injury, although De Zerbi suggested before this fixture that his role was more likely to come during the closing matches of the season rather than guaranteeing an immediate start at Villa Park. Tottenham therefore remain heavily depleted despite the improvement in mood.
The Midfield Battle Could Decide the Match
Both teams are missing important central midfielders. Villa are without Kamara and Onana. Tottenham have also spent much of the campaign dealing with injuries throughout the squad. That could make the battle involving Tielemans, Bentancur, Palhinha and Villa's attacking midfielders particularly important.
If Villa establish control, they can keep Tottenham defending around their own penalty area and use Watkins' movement to create openings. If Spurs successfully tempt Villa forward and escape the first press, De Zerbi's team could find opportunities against Villa's high defensive line.
Villa Must Be Careful With Tottenham's Desperation
League position alone makes Villa favourites, but this is not a normal game against a bottom-three opponent. Tottenham know they need points immediately. De Zerbi has repeatedly emphasised belief rather than fear as Spurs try to escape the relegation zone.
That could make Tottenham more aggressive than a typical struggling away side. Villa should expect Spurs to press, compete for second balls and take risks if the match remains level late on. The hosts must therefore manage the game carefully rather than assuming Tottenham will sit deep throughout.
Tottenham Need to Exploit Villa's European Schedule
Villa played a demanding Europa League semi-final at Nottingham Forest on Thursday and face the decisive second leg the following Thursday. Tottenham should try to make that physical workload matter. Increasing the tempo, pressing Villa's defenders and forcing the hosts into repeated transitions could test players who featured heavily in Europe.
Emery's likely rotation may help Villa physically, but it could also disrupt the team's usual rhythm. That provides Spurs with one of their clearest opportunities.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham: Who Has the Advantage?
Aston Villa enter as favourites. They are fifth in the Premier League, have home advantage and have won the previous four competitive meetings between the clubs. Across the last 10, Villa have seven victories compared with Tottenham's three.
However, there are important reasons why this fixture may be more difficult than the table suggests. Villa are coming off consecutive 1-0 defeats against Fulham and Nottingham Forest and have the second leg of their Europa League semi-final only four days later.
Tottenham, meanwhile, finally ended their long league winless run against Wolves and enter the game knowing survival could depend on their final four matches. They sit only two points behind West Ham. Spurs' injury list is a major disadvantage, particularly with Simons and Solanke joining Romero, Kudus and others on the sidelines.
Villa have midfield absences of their own, but Emery still has considerably greater depth available. The hosts should have the stronger overall squad and a clear attacking advantage through Watkins, Rogers and their supporting players.
Tottenham's best chance may be to turn the game into a high-energy contest, exploit Villa's short recovery period and make De Zerbi's aggressive pressing difficult to play through. For Aston Villa, three points would strengthen their Champions League challenge before attention returns to Europe.
For Tottenham, victory could transform the relegation battle and provide the strongest evidence yet that De Zerbi's arrival has given them a realistic route to survival. With Villa chasing Champions League qualification and Spurs fighting to preserve their Premier League status, the May 3 meeting at Villa Park carries far greater significance than the clubs' contrasting league positions might initially suggest.