Aston Villa vs Sunderland Predictions

• Villa have scored in eight consecutive games
• Sunderland have scored in six of their last eight away games
• Villa have failed to win three of their last four games after a European fixture

In-form pair clash at Villa Park

Aston Villa booked a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday and now turn their attentions back to their push for a top five Premier League finish when Sunderland visit on Sunday.

Sunderland have enjoyed a memorable season themselves after winning promotion last term. They remain in contention for European football as they go into this latest round of games just one point adrift of Brentford in seventh spot.

Both teams to score the standout bet

Villa are the clear favourites but Sunderland have just one defeat in their last five league games and may be able to take a point, particularly as the hosts are coming into the fixture after a midweek game. The Villans have won just one of their last four games immediately after a European outing so the best angle here is perhaps backing both teams to score.

Villa have scored in eight consecutive games and have found clean sheets hard to come by domestically with just one in their last six league games. Sunderland have scored in six of their lost eight away games and concede on average 1.4 goals per-game away from home in the Premier League, so goals at both ends seems likely.

Spoils could be shared

These sides played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture and a repeat is fancied at Villa Park on Sunday.

With both sides in form it could be hard to separate them and Villa drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest in their last league game immediately after a European game.

The value is with the visiting players in the goalscorer markets and an anytime effort from Brian Brobbey is the pick. Brobbey has two goals in his last three away games for Sunderland, and he had a couple of good chances in the win over Spurs last time out without scoring so he should get a few opportunities on Sunday.