Burnley vs Aston Villa Preview: Villa Aim to Strengthen Champions League Push at Turf Moor

Burnley host Aston Villa at Turf Moor as Villa look to solidify their Champions League position in a battle of the clarets.

Unai Emery’s side head into Sunday’s fixture with the knowledge that a win would all but confirm their Champions League status for next season.

After securing a UEFA Europa League semi-final win over fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest on Thursday, Villa will be hoping to ride that momentum this weekend and secure another important victory.

A very different story can be said for their hosts.

Newly appointed interim manager Mike Jackson leads Burnley into the second game of his tenure after falling to a 3-1 away defeat at Leeds United last Friday evening.

The Clarets’ run of form is in a sorry state at the moment, with the club winless since a 3-2 away victory at Crystal Palace in February.

Villa’s heavy schedule in recent weeks, with European football occupying most midweeks, could mean they rest a handful of first-team stars for the weekend fixture.

However, given the last time they lost to an already relegated side was in May 2015, there may be no better opportunity to rotate and allow some players to rest their legs.

Turf Moor’s tough reputation has struggled to live up to the standards of previous years this season, with stands emptying early, boos directed towards the home side and empty seats visible around the ground.

For the hosts, the final three games almost feel like a mission to protect the pride of the club, the players and the fans not a situation anyone connected to the club would have wanted with matches still remaining in the campaign.

Aston Villa have managed just seven points from their last eight Premier League games, winning two, drawing one and losing five.

Burnley are one of only two teams to have picked up fewer points than their Sunday visitors during that same period, managing just one.

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French midfielder Boubacar Kamara is out of contention for the game, along with midfield partner Amadou Onana.

Harvey Elliott also looks unlikely to be involved from the start on Sunday.

After such a busy schedule, it would come as no surprise if several Villa players were rested this weekend.

For Burnley, injury news remains largely unchanged once again.

Josh Cullen, Axel Tuanzebe and Jordan Beyer all remain unavailable.

Reports suggest Welsh right-back Connor Roberts has returned to training, while both Zeki Amdouni and Armando Broja featured from the bench against Leeds and could be in line for more minutes against Villa.

Final Thoughts

It is another huge game in the race for Champions League qualification, although at this stage of the season every fixture feels significant.

One more win and a league double over Burnley would move Aston Villa to the verge of qualification for Europe’s elite competition.

Can they get it done?

Or will Burnley finally give their supporters something to celebrate at the end of a difficult campaign at Turf Moor?