Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI vs Aston Villa: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

Fitness Concerns Shape Spurs’ Trip to Villa Park

Tottenham Hotspur arrive at Villa Park tonight facing a delicate balancing act, with the Europa League final just five days away. The visit to Aston Villa presents not only a challenging Premier League fixture but also a logistical headache for Ange Postecoglou, who must navigate the tightrope between competitive sharpness and injury avoidance.

With creative trio Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Lucas Bergvall (ankle), and James Maddison (knee) all ruled out, Spurs are short on midfield invention. Kulusevski’s recent surgery adds to the club’s growing list of absentees, leaving the Australian manager to juggle his limited resources wisely ahead of the clash against Manchester United in Spain.

Key Men Return But Minutes Must Be Managed

Postecoglou confirmed that captain Heung-min Son will feature tonight following his return from a foot injury. “He’ll definitely play tomorrow, whether we start with him or not we’ll have a look at,” he said. “He reacted well to playing the other day, no issues with his foot, he’s trained well. If not a starter, he’ll definitely play at least half the game.”

The South Korean’s presence, even if limited to a half, is a welcome boost. Meanwhile, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven – integral to Spurs’ hopes of lifting European silverware – could each get a half’s action as they work towards peak fitness.

Pedro Porro, likely to be spared for the final, won’t be risked, while midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are expected to rotate. Young Archie Gray may be given another opportunity to stake his claim in midfield, further illustrating Postecoglou’s faith in youth during this injury-hit period.

Photo: IMAGO

Attack Options Juggled With Final in Mind

Richarlison, potentially displaced by Son in the final, is pushing to lead the line at Villa Park. His physicality and work rate may be needed against a Villa side still chasing Champions League football. Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke may be rested, paving the way for Wilson Odobert to come in from the flank.

Mathys Tel remains a likely deputy for Son, while injuries continue to hamper Spurs’ frontline depth. Timo Werner (hamstring), Dane Scarlett (groin), and Radu Dragusin (knee) all remain unavailable.

Spurs’ attacking fluency has dipped without Maddison’s creativity, and with Pape Matar Sarr earmarked for a No10 role in the final, his performance tonight could prove pivotal. The Senegalese international may not be the most natural playmaker, but this outing offers him a critical rehearsal on a high-stakes stage.

Villa’s Top Four Push Adds Extra Edge

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have their own motivations heading into this contest. Still in contention for a Champions League berth, the Villains will be looking to take advantage of a rotated Spurs side. With Villa Park expected to be rocking, the home side will aim to test Tottenham’s second-string and exploit any signs of distraction ahead of their European final.

This clash promises to be more than a simple dress rehearsal for Spurs. It’s a real test of depth, mentality and momentum. Postecoglou will want to avoid any further injuries, but also ensure his squad doesn’t go into Wednesday’s final cold or out of rhythm.

Match Info

Date & Time: Friday 16 May 2025, 7:30pm BSTVenue: Villa ParkLive Coverage: Sky Sports

Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Spence, Romero, Danso, Udogie; Bissouma, Gray; Sarr, Odobert, Son; RicharlisonInjured: Kulusevski, Bergvall, Maddison, Dragusin, Werner, Scarlett