Aston Villa will continue their pre-season tour of the USA with a visit to St Louis City in the early hours of Thursday morning UK time. The Villans are yet to win in any of their last three pre-season friendlies, and will be aiming to put that right on their travels.
St Louis' season is already well underway, but they have struggled in the MLS of late. Indeed, the hosts come into this clash on the back of two straight defeats in the league, and will be hoping for a more positive result in order to try and help them kick on for the rest of the campaign.
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St Louis vs Aston Villa prediction: Villans to get first pre-season victory?
Key stats
- St Louis have won only once in their last eight games in total, losing five of the previous six.
- St Louis have also failed to keep a clean sheet in 14 matches.
- Villa's last three wins have been to nil.
Correct score prediction: St Louis 0-3 Aston Villa
While both teams have been in poor form of late, Villa should possess the quality to get themselves a first win in pre-season. St Louis will be more concentrated on their league form, and so may not be fully at the races.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Villa favourites to emerge victorious
- HOME: 15/4 (4.75) – 21.1%
- DRAW: 4/1 (5.00) – 20.0%
- AWAY: 1/2 (1.50) – 66.7%
*odds from Paddy Power, subject to change
As shown by the implied probabilities, Villa are very much fancied by bookmakers to collect their first win of pre-season. Interestingly, there is very little to separate a St Louis victory and a draw in terms of percentages.
Also, feel free to check out our dedicated Football Betting Tips Today page.
Most recent H2Hs: First meeting between two sides
These two teams will meet for the first time ever in a competitive outing on Thursday morning. Given the superior quality of the Premier League in comparison to the MLS, we are expecting Villa to fly back to England with a win under their belt.
St Louis preview: Four major absentees
St Louis will be without the services of Joakim Nilsson, Rasmus Alm, Henry Kessler and Michael Wentzel through injury. New signings Jaziel Orozco and Jeong Sang-bin could start, though, for the hosts.
Predicted lineup: Burki (GK); Totland, Baumgartl, Orozco, Padelford; Lowen, Ostrak; Jeong, Hartel, Pompeu & Klauss
USA MLS 11/05/25
L
San Diego FC
2
St. Louis City SC
1
USA US Open Cup 08/05/25
W
Union Omaha
0
St. Louis City SC
2
USA MLS 04/05/25
L
Seattle Sounders
4
St. Louis City SC
1
USA MLS 27/04/25
D
Los Angeles FC
2
St. Louis City SC
2
USA MLS 20/04/25
D
Vancouver Whitecaps
0
St. Louis City SC
0
Aston Villa preview: Watkins to start?
Despite speculation over his future at Villa, with him the subject of reported interest from fellow Premier League side Manchester United in the summer transfer window, Ollie Watkins is likely to start up front. The likes of Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia are missing from the squad, though, due to injury.
Predicted lineup: Bizot (GK); Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, McGinn; Malen, Rogers, Ramsey & Watkins
England Premier League 10/05/25
W
Bournemouth
0
Aston Villa
1
England Premier League 03/05/25
W
Fulham
0
Aston Villa
1
England FA Cup 26/04/25
L
Crystal Palace
3
Aston Villa
0
England Premier League 22/04/25
L
Man City
2
Aston Villa
1
England Premier League 19/04/25
W
Newcastle
1
Aston Villa
4
Player to watch: Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins has officially returned to Aston Villa for pre-season, and will be hoping to hit the ground running straight away against St Louis. The England international striker scored an impressive 16 goals and made a further eight assists in the Premier League over the course of the 2024/25 campaign, and so remains one of the deadliest forwards around at the age of 29.