A rejuvenated Bournemouth host Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides navigate contrasting runs of form as the Premier League enters its decisive final third. After an 11-game winter slump, Andoni Iraola’s Cherries have reignited their campaign. They collected 10 points from their last four matches. This run includes back-to-back 3–2 thrillers against Tottenham and reigning champions Liverpool.
Conversely, Unai Emery’s Villa arrive in Dorset looking to stop a domestic slide. The Lions have lost three of their last six league outings. Despite these stumbles, Villa remain third in the table. They seek a historic first-ever top-flight double over Bournemouth after an emphatic 4–0 victory in November.
Bournemouth vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 7 February 2026
- Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
- Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: Chris Kavanagh
- Last Meeting: Aston Villa 4–0 Bournemouth (9 Nov 2025), Premier League
Team News
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola is hopeful that David Brooks can return to the matchday squad tonight. However, the Cherries remain short of key options due to injuries. Tyler Adams, Justin Kluivert, and Marcus Tavernier are all confirmed absentees. New January additions Alex Tóth and Rayan are available for selection. Rayan is pushing for his first start after providing an assist on his debut last week.
Aston Villa
The Lions received a major boost as Ollie Watkins and Amadou Onana both returned to training. Both players are expected to start this afternoon. Ross Barkley is also back in the fold to provide much-needed midfield depth. However, the squad still misses John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Boubacar Kamara. If Watkins is not risked, Tammy Abraham is poised to lead the attack.
Form
Bournemouth
The Cherries have established themselves as “Top Three” killers recently. They have won five of their last seven league games against teams starting the day in the top three. Bournemouth matches provide constant entertainment, seeing more goals (83) than any other team this season. Notably, the team struggles with defensive set-pieces. They have conceded a league-high 16 goals from such situations. Teenager Junior Kroupi remains a lethal threat with a clinical 38.1% shot conversion rate.
Aston Villa
Villa boast the second-best away record in the division with 21 points on the road. Only league leaders Arsenal have performed better away from home this term. Notably, Morgan Rogers has been their most valuable player. His seven league goals have secured 11 points for the club this season. Defensively, Villa have conceded 7.9 goals fewer than expected, representing the second-best defensive overperformance in the league.
Predicted Lineups
Bournemouth Predicted XI: Petrović; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Cook; Jimenez, Kroupi, Adli; Evanilson
Aston Villa Predicted XI: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Sancho, Rogers, Buendía; Abraham
How to Watch Bournemouth vs Aston Villa?
The match will not be broadcast live in the UK due to the blackout. Fans can follow live audio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live. Extended highlights will air on Match of the Day on BBC One at 22:25 GMT.
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