FA Cup 2024-2025: Preston-Aston Villa, the likely lineups.

Preston-Aston Villa is a seemingly one-sided challenge, but you can never tell. Indeed, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday they will face a Championship team, the last one still in the competition, and one that this year has carved out a starring role not only in the Premier League but also in the Champions League. But taking into account the fact that the match will be held in the FA Cup, history teaches that surprise is always just around the corner.

Considering the difficulty of the engagement, Preston should take the field with a crowded defense and even occupied by five men: in the center will act Gibson, Lindsay and Bauer, while the flankers Storey and Brady could also ensure some sorties forward. In the midfield ready Whiteman, Frokjaer-Jensen and Thordarson, supporting the two forwards Keane and Osmajic.

More usual formation but with some rotation for Aston Villa, with Unai Emery ready to give rest to some of his best men. So the four who will line up in front of Martinez should be Cash, Konsa, Mings and Maatsen, while in the midfield McGinn will keep Tielemans company. Watkins possible the only forward, with Asensio, Rogers and Rashford behind him.

Probable lineups:

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PRESTON (5-3-2): Woodman; Storey, Gibson, Lindsay, Bauer, Brady; Whiteman, Frokjaer-Jensen, Thordarson; Keane, Osmajic.
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans; Asensio, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins.