Zrinjski Mostar vs Aston Villa Prediction: Villa can qualify in style

Aston Villa have recorded wins over Arsenal and Manchester City in their last two Premier League matches and talk is of Unai Emery’s men launching a title challenge.

Attention turns to Europe on Thursday night, with the Villans traveling to Bosnia and Herzegovina to face Zrinjski Mostar.

Villa are pretty much assured of top spot in the group barring a big turnaround with second-placed Legia Warsaw, and Zrinjski Mostar have already been eliminated from the competition.

Team news

Leon Bailey will be assessed, and long-term absentees Tyrone Mings, Bertrand Traore and Emi Buendia will miss the game.

Match Odds

The hosts are 6/1 to win, while Villa are 4/9 to claim the three points, and the draw is priced up at 18/5.

Over 3.5 goals @ 7/4

Aston Villa are three points clear of Legia Warsaw at the top of Group E of the Europa Conference League and Villa are three goals better off than the second-placed side.

It’s highly likely that the Villans will top the group, but that doesn’t mean that Emery will allow his squad to take their foot off the gas.

Villa have emerged as at least top-four contenders in the Premier League and their performances in wins over Arsenal and Man City suggest they could even challenge for the title.

Of course, Emery will have one eye on the busy festive period and Villa’s domestic commitments, but the Spaniard is unlikely to want to break the positive feeling at the club and the former Arsenal gaffer has a superb European record to uphold.

There will be changes to the Villa starting line-up on Thursday evening, but there isn’t much purpose in leaving out Lucas Digne and Douglas Luis, who are suspended for Sunday’s clash with Brentford and Emery is likely to field a fairly strong side.

Zrinjski Mostar were beaten 1-0 at Villa Park in October, but the hosts won the shot count 17-3, the corner count 15-0 and had 75 per cent possession in what was one-way traffic.

The Villans could have easily scored three, four or five goals on that occasion and they look value to do just that in the return fixture.

Lucas Digne to score anytime @ 7/1

An in-form Villa team could easily hit four or five goals on their trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina and combining over 3.5 goals and Digne to score at any time looks a play.

The left-back is suspended for Sunday’s Premier League tie with Brentford, meaning he could well be handed a starting berth and the Frenchman should get plenty of opportunities to push forward.

Digne could also be on free-kick duty from the left-hand side and he looks like a value any-time scorer punt in what should be a stylish Villa victory.

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