Fulham vs Aston Villa Prediction - Premier League: A Challenge at Craven Cottage
Aston Villa travel to Craven Cottage aiming to secure a top-four finish, while Fulham look to improve their inconsistent form mid-table in the Premier League.
At 6:30 PM on April 25, 2026, Craven Cottage will be the focal point of the clash between Fulham and Aston Villa. This is a crucial time of the season, as every point can determine the fate of the teams in the race for European qualification and improving their position in the league table.
Ranking position and current context
Aston Villa are having an impressive season, firmly sitting in fourth place with 58 points from 33 matches. Unai Emery's side have a significant advantage in the race for a Champions League spot next season. Conversely, Fulham are in 12th place with 45 points. Although safe from relegation, their inconsistent form makes it difficult for the London team to break into the top half of the table.
| Team | Location | Point | Form (last 5 matches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 4 | 58 | 2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses |
| Fulham | 12 | 45 | Win 1, Draw 2, Loss 2 |
In-depth performance analysis and statistics
Fulham: The home advantage at Craven Cottage
Fulham, the home team, has played 33 matches this season with a record of 13 wins, 6 draws, and 14 losses. Notably, Marco Silva's team's strength is mainly concentrated at home, with 9 wins out of a total of 13 matches this season. However, their goal difference is currently negative (-3) with 43 goals scored and 46 goals conceded, indicating certain weaknesses in their defensive system.
Aston Villa: The mettle of a Top 4 contender.
Aston Villa are showing balance in their play with 17 wins in 33 league matches. Although their form has slowed down somewhat in the last 5 games with 2 losses, their attacking power remains impressive with 47 goals. Away from home, Villa have secured 6 wins and 5 draws, a record that gives them confidence when they travel to London.
Head-to-head history: Absolute dominance
Recent head-to-head history strongly favors the away team. In their last five Premier League encounters, Aston Villa have won all five matches. Most recently, in September 2025, Villa defeated Fulham 3-1. Looking further back, Fulham have consistently struggled against the high-pressing style of play and quick transitions of the Birmingham team.
- September 28, 2025: Aston Villa 3 - 1 Fulham
- May 3, 2025: Aston Villa 1 - 0 Fulham
- October 19, 2024: Fulham 1 - 3 Aston Villa
- February 17, 2024: Fulham 1 - 2 Aston Villa
- November 12, 2023: Aston Villa 3 - 1 Fulham
Force situation and tactical forecast
Both teams are facing personnel losses due to injuries. For Fulham, Kevin is definitely out with a foot injury, while the availability of Alex Iwobi and Kenny Tete remains uncertain. This could significantly impact the home team's creativity on the flanks.
For Aston Villa, the absence of Boubacar Kamara due to a knee injury is a major blow to their midfield. Striker Tammy Abraham's participation is also uncertain due to a shoulder problem. It is likely that manager Unai Emery will continue to employ a possession-based formation to exploit Fulham's defensive weaknesses.
Predict the result
Based on statistics and head-to-head history, Aston Villa is considered the favorite with a predicted win probability of 45%, equivalent to a 45% draw probability, while Fulham's chances of winning are only 10%. With both teams tending to play cautiously in important matches, a scenario with fewer than 2.5 goals per team is highly likely.
Forecast:Aston Villa win or draw.
Team lineup updated at 18:00 on April 25, 2026
Official lineup
Fulham
Diagram: 4-2-3-1
CoachMarco Silva
Starting lineup:
- 1. Bernd Leno (G)
- 21. Timothy Castagne (D)
- 5. Joachim Andersen (D)
- 3. Calvin Bassey (D)
- 30. Ryan Sessegnon (D)
- 20. Sasa Lukac (M)
- 16. Sanderson Berge (Medium)
- 8. Harry Wilson (M)
- 32. Emile Smith Rowe (M)
- 19. Samuel Chukwueze (M)
- 7. Raul Jimenez (F)
Substitutes:
- 23. Benjamin Lecomte
- 31. Issa Diop
- 33. Antonee Robinson
- 6. Harrison Reed
- 10. Tom Cairney
- 24. Joshua King
- 14. Oscar Bobb
- 18. Jonah Kusi-Asare
- 9. Rodrigo Muniz
Aston Villa
Diagram: 4-2-3-1
CoachUnai Emery
Starting lineup:
- 23. Emiliano Martinez (G)
- 2. Matty Cash (D)
- 4. Ezri Konsa (D)
- 14. Pau Torres (D)
- 12. Lucas Digne (D)
- 24. Amadou Onana (M)
- 8. Youri Tielemans (M)
- 7. John McGinn (M)
- 27. Morgan Rogers (M)
- 10. Emiliano Buendía (M)
- 11. Ollie Watkins (F)
Substitutes:
- 40. Marco Bizot
- 3. Victor Lindelof
- 5. Tyrone Mings
- 22. Ian Maatsen
- 6. Ross Barkley
- 19. Jadon Sancho
- 31. Leon Bailey
- 21. Douglas Luiz
- 18. Tammy Abraham