Manchester United will sign off a miserable week with a Premier League final-day showdown against Aston Villa on Sunday, against a side with far more positive European aspirations.
Ruben Amorim's men will finally close out a season that has been a true nightmare. Defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday left them without the possibility of competing in Europe in the 2025/26, and they will end their campaign with the lowest Premier League points tally and the worst position in their history.
A tense atmosphere is expected at Old Trafford as fan discontent grows with both the ownership and the players.
Villa, meanwhile, must do their job and wait for a twist of fate. Sixth in the table with 66 points, they are behind Newcastle and Chelsea on goal difference in the race for Champions League qualification and remain two points behind Manchester City.
A win at Old Trafford will mean they'll have to wait for a stumble from one of their rivals to return to the top table of European football again next term. Otherwise, they'll be in the Europa League, and even then they should beware Nottingham Forest, who are on 65 points and could still send Villa to the Conference League.
According to Betfair, Villa are the clear favourites at 8/11, while a Manchester United victory rises to 7/2 and the draw is 3/1.
Here's our predictions and best betting tips to make the match even more exciting.
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Manchester United vs. Aston Villa prediction, tips, bet builder and odds
Aston Villa to score first and lead at half-time — 2.44/1 (Paddy Power)
With a need to win to try and finish in the top five in the race for Europe, Villa will go all-out on the attack, as they have done in four of their last six matches, scoring the first goal against Newcastle, Fulham, Bournemouth, and Tottenham. They'll also be facing a team who has conceded the first goal in their last four matches, has gone five games without a clean sheet, and has lost the first half in four of those games. Looking at all these stats, Villa are strong contenders to score first and hold on to be winning at the break.
Ollie Watkins to score at any time —21/10 (Betfair)
There will no doubt be plenty of attention on Marcus Rashford on his return to Old Trafford but Unai Emery's side will need their true star striker to be firing more than ever for this one. With 17 goals this season, 16 of them in the Premier League, Watkins is their key player in attack and will look to capitalise on United's obvious defensive frailties. In their last away match, Watkins was a hero against Bournemouth with a 97th-minute goal that gave Villa a golden victory, and he will look to be the main man again here.
Manchester United vs. Aston Villa predicted score and most likely results
Here's a rundown of the most likely outcomes for Man Utd vs. Aston Villa, according to betway, who are offering up to a £30 free matched bet if your first acca loses, plus a £30 Uber Eats voucher for new customers.
How to watch Manchester United vs. Aston Villa in the Premier League
- Date: Sunday, May 25
- Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
- Time: 16:00 BST
- TV/Stream: TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate / Discovery+
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