Comments and predictions for Aston Villa vs Cardiff City: The day Rashford explodes

Latest Aston Villa vs Cardiff City team information

With a tight schedule in all three competitions, coach Unai Emery is likely to rotate his squad. Two loanees – Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio – are waiting for their chance to start.

However, the Spanish strategist is still facing a personnel headache as Pau Torres, Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana are yet to return before the national team training session. If goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is not in good shape after being taken off midway through the defeat to Crystal Palace, Robin Olsen will continue to start.

Cardiff's defence has been hit hard by the fact that goalkeeper Jak Alnwick is out for the rest of the season with a torn hamstring, forcing the manager to rely on Ethan Horvath. In addition, Ollie Tanner, Will Alves, David Turnbull, Jasper Daland and captain Joe Ralls are also absent due to injury.

Aaron Ramsey, who has just returned from a long injury lay-off, still needs to manage his workload and may not be fit enough to play the full 90 minutes. However, Dimitrios Goutas will return from suspension, while former Villa man Anwar El Ghazi promises to be a determined performer against his former club.

Up front, striker Callum Robinson is in impressive form, having just equalled his career-best scoring record – 12 goals in the Championship, a milestone he achieved in 2019.

Aston Villa vs Cardiff City latest expected lineup

Aston Villa:

Olsen; Garcia, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans; Rogers, Asensio, Rashford; Malen

Cardiff City:

Horvath; Ng, Goutas, Fish; Rinomhota, Mannsverk, Ramsey, O'Dowda; El Ghazi, Robinson; Salech

Latest football commentary on Aston Villa vs Cardiff City

Aston Villa suffered a night to forget as they were beaten 4-1 by Crystal Palace, dealing a heavy blow to their ambitions of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Unai Emery’s side equalised thanks to a goal from Morgan Rogers, but then their defence collapsed with three goals in a row.

Currently 10th in the Premier League, Villa still have a chance to compete for a European spot, especially as they prepare for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Club Brugge next week. However, before thinking about continental competition, the Villa Park team will turn their attention to the FA Cup – a trophy they have longed for after nearly 30 years without winning it.

Despite having struggled in the FA Cup in recent years, Villa have beaten West Ham and Tottenham, and with home advantage they can be confident of progressing.

On the other side of the front line, Cardiff City are also having a memorable journey when reaching the fifth round for the first time in 11 years, after wins against Sheffield United and Stoke City (a dramatic penalty shootout win after a 3-3 draw).

They then claimed a crucial 1-0 win over Hull City, with Callum Robinson on target, to move Cardiff up to 19th in the Championship and six points above the relegation zone.

Cardiff’s away form is worrying, however – they have won just one of their last 17 away games. Furthermore, their head-to-head record is not in their favour either: Cardiff have failed to win in their last 15 visits to Villa Park, and have lost their last seven.

Latest Aston Villa vs Cardiff City score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the following results for the match Aston Villa vs Cardiff City:

• Sportsmole: Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff City

• WhoScore: Aston Villa 2-1 Cardiff City
• Our prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Cardiff City

When and where to watch Aston Villa vs Cardiff City live?

To watch live the match Aston Villa vs Cardiff City in the FA Cup taking place at 3:00 a.m. on March 1, viewers can watch onK+ Sport,K+PMor online sports channels. Wish you have fun watching football.