Brighton vs Aston Villa Predictions

• Aston Villa’s last seven games have all featured at least three goals
• Brighton have won just one of their last 11 games against Villa
• Both teams have scored in five of Villa’s last seven Premier League away games

Villa deserve respect despite issues

Aston Villa have endured a difficult summer following their memorable Europa League triumph and manager Unai Emery has been left to pick up the pieces following the departures of Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa.

Injuries are not helping the situation, but they should not be ruled out when they travel south to face Brighton in their opening Premier League game of the season on Sunday.

There was enough in their 2-1 Uefa Super Cup defeat against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain to suggest they can still be a top-six side once the dust has settled.

They won the shot count in that clash and the fact they scored 15 goals in their final five games of last season deserves respect.

Arctic trip a concern for Seagulls

Brighton were back in action on Thursday with an away trip to Tromso in the Conference League which ended in a goalless draw.

That long trip to inside the Arctic Circle could prove quite taxing for a team who are not used to the demands of European football and the experience could have taken its toll for Fabian Hurzeler’s outfit, who lost three of their final four league matches last season.

The exception in that run was a victory over already-relegated Wolves and they also have to contend with the fact they have won just one of their last 11 games against their visitors from the Midlands.

There looks enough juice in the Villa price to enable the draw-no-bet option to be attractive and there looks a strong chance there will be goals, so preference is for a 2-1 Villa win.

There have been at least three goals in each of Villa’s last seven games and in five of the last six times the Seagulls have been in league action at the Amex.

Buendia could make his mark

Villa have issues up front with Ollie Watkins lacking match fitness while teenager Brian Madjo, who has made a massive impression in pre-season, is set to miss out through injury.

So someone needs to step up to the plate and that man could be Emiliano Buendia, who is set to sit behind whoever Emery elects to station at the top end of the pitch.

The Argentinian has been on traget in pre-season, but more importantly takes the confidence of three goals in his final four games of Villa’s successful Europa League campaign into the new season, so he could get off to a flying start.