Aston Villa hosts Leeds United at Villa Park today, aiming to strengthen their push for Champions League football and close the gap to the Premier League leaders.
Unai Emery’s team currently holds third place with 50 points from 26 matches, matching one of the club’s best starts in Premier League history. Despite a recent 1–3 FA Cup loss to Newcastle United, their focus remains on league performance.
Leeds United arrives with confidence after a penalty shootout win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup, followed by a resilient 2–2 draw against Chelsea. Under Daniel Farke, Leeds sits 15th, having built a six-point lead over the relegation zone and losing only twice since December.
Aston Villa vs Leeds United – Match preview and team news
- Date: Saturday, 21 February 2026
- Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
- Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
- Referee: Michael Oliver
- VAR: Tony Harrington
- Last Meeting: Leeds 1–2 Aston Villa (23 Nov 2025), Premier League
Team News
Aston Villa
Unai Emery stated that Matty Cash could return after missing two games due to a slight knee injury. John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, and Youri Tielemans remain out with injuries. Marco Bizot is suspended after a red card in the FA Cup, meaning Emiliano MartÃnez will be in goal. Morgan Rogers will lead the attack, topping the team in chances created, assists, and goals.
Leeds United
Daniel Farke will miss Noah Okafor, sidelined for up to four weeks with a hamstring strain from the last cup match. The team welcomes back Pascal Struijk, Anton Stach, and Daniel James, who are fit to play. Lukas Nmecha comes in with strong form, scoring frequently this season. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to lead the line.
Form
Aston Villa
Aston Villa has been strong at home, winning eight of their last 10 matches at Villa Park. They remain unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against Leeds. Under Unai Emery, the team has not lost to a promoted side, with 14 wins and four draws in 18 matches. Their defense has also been solid, allowing just seven goals in their last six league games.
Leeds United
Leeds has shown a strong threat from set-pieces, leading the league in long throws into the box and expected goals from those situations. Captain Ethan Ampadu has made the most long throws recently. While they have only won one of their last 18 away games, five of the last six on the road have ended in draws.
Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Sancho, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins
Leeds United: Darlow; Justin, Rodon, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Gruev, Gudmundsson; Gnonto, Aaronson; Calvert-Lewin
How to Watch Aston Villa vs Leeds United?
Due to the traditional 3 p.m. blackout, the match will not be shown live on television in the United Kingdom.
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