Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the FA Cup match.
Aston Villa will play against Cardiff City in the FA Cup match in Birmingham. This fixture is part of the Round of 16 in the world’s oldest football tournament and is one of three encounters in this round featuring teams from England’s top two divisions.
Aston Villa
On the fourth day after this match, Aston Villa are scheduled to play the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie against Club Brugge. Unai Emery will need to manage playing time across his squad. Their recent defeat to Crystal Palace (1:4) is a concern, particularly as Amadou Onana has been out of action since January 18 due to a thigh injury; in the nine matches since then, they have secured only three wins.
Cardiff City
Cardiff City are not expected to cause significant difficulties even if not at their best. They have been near the bottom of the Championship for most of the season, which is now drawing to a close. A 1:0 win over Hull City moved them to 19th place and kept them six points clear of the relegation zone. In the FA Cup, however, they progressed to the Round of 16 despite being considered underdogs in their previous two rounds.
Aston Villa vs Cardiff City Prediction
Aston Villa will try to secure a win without aiming for a high-scoring match ahead of their Champions League tie. Therefore, our prediction is a win for the hosts by a margin of no more than two goals.
