Preview: Aston Villa Women vs. Tottenham Hotspur Women

Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Women’s Super League clash between Aston Villa Women and Tottenham Hotspur Women, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Tottenham Hotspur Women will attempt to claim a second straight victory when they travel to Villa Park for Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa Women.

While Spurs kicked off the campaign with a dominant victory, Villa began their Women’s Super League campaign with a narrow defeat to Chelsea.

Match preview
© Imago

Aston Villa have entered the 2024-25 campaign with a new manager after Robert de Pauw left his role as Bayer Leverkusen boss to take on his first job in the WSL.

De Pauw began his tenure with a narrow 1-0 defeat, but he would have been pleased by his team’s battling display in their WSL opener against reigning champions Chelsea.

Villa were ultimately left frustrated by a couple of late Hannah Hampton saves, ensuring Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s first-half effort proved to be the difference between the two sides.

After seeing his side fall just short on matchday one, De Pauw is now preparing for his first WSL home game, with the Villa boss hoping to guide his new club to their first home league victory since December.

The Villans may be able to take confidence from the fact they picked up a 2-1 away victory in their most recent meeting with Tottenham in February.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to claim back-to-back victories after cruising to a 4-0 victory in their WSL opener against Crystal Palace.

Hayley Raso, Jessica Naz, Drew Spence and Olga Ahtinen all got on the scoresheet to get their side off to a winning start.

Spurs will now turn their focus to their first away game of the season, knowing they need to be more consistent on their travels if they are to build upon last season’s sixth-place finish.

Robert Vilahamn’s side mustered four victories in 11 WSL road trips last term, including one win in their final five away games of the 2023-24 season.

However, they did manage to claim maximum points in last season’s away game against Villa, with Martha Thomas netting a hat-trick in a 4-2 victory in October 2023.

Aston Villa Women Women’s Super League form:

Tottenham Hotspur Women Women’s Super League form:

Aston Villa are unable to call upon the services of Anna Leat and Georgia Mullett, who are sidelined with head and hamstring injuries respectively.

Jill Baijings remains sidelined with a back issue, while Gabi Nunes is a doubt due to a lack of match fitness.

Scotland international Kirsty Hanson is in contention for a starting spot after featuring as a half-time substitute against Chelsea.

As for the visitors, they are expected to be without Amy James-Turner, Kit Graham and Shuang Wang due to injury.

Ella Morris sat out the opening game against Palace, but Spurs are hopeful the summer addition will be passed fit for Sunday’s contest.

However, Vilahamn has revealed that Luana Buhler has a “small issue” and a late decision will be made over her availability.

Aston Villa Women possible starting lineup:
D’Angelo; Maritz, Patten, Parker, Tomas; Kearns, Nobbs; Grant, Dali, Hanson; Daly

Tottenham Hotspur Women possible starting lineup:
Spencer; Neville, Bartrip, Hunt, Nilden; Oroz, Summanen; Raso, Spence, Naz; Thomas

We say: Aston Villa Women 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur Women
Tottenham will face a tougher test than their opening game against Palace, and we think they could be held to a draw by a Villa side who showed plenty of fight and promise in their narrow defeat to champions Chelsea.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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