Three Aston Villa players who have picked themselves against Fulham after Bologna performance
Unai Emery has some difficult decisions to make before facing Fulham after Aston Villa secured a slim victory against Bologna.
While it was an important three points in the Europa League on Thursday, 25 September, there are several areas of the pitch that need drastic improvement if Villa are to climb the Premier League table.
Ollie Watkins missed from the penalty spot, unable to double the Villans’ lead after John McGinn‘s first-half opener, and that could have been crucial had Bologna taken their chances at Villa Park.
There is now a tight turnaround for the next game, welcoming Marco Silva‘s side to the Midlands on Sunday, 28 September. Fulham are fresh from beating Brentford last weekend.
Although some positions will be up for debate, these three players simply have to start.
Pau Torres
Some eyebrows will have been raised when seeing that Tyrone Mings was starting on the bench, but Torres quickly made his presence known in the centre of defence.
You always know what you’re getting from the Spaniard. Accurate passing, no-nonsense tackles, line-splitting runs up the pitch, and some brilliant battles in the air.
He made a huge difference at the back against the talented Serie A side, and given the threat that Fulham have up front, it is a no-brainer to keep him in the lineup for Sunday.
Boubacar Kamara
This will come as a surprise to absolutely nobody. Boubacar Kamara recently put pen to paper on a new contract, and it is clear to see why Emery loves him at the base of his midfield.
| Boubacar Kamara vs Bologna | Stats |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Passing accuracy | 83% (34/41) |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Successful dribbles | 100% |
| Ground duels won | 80% (8/10) |
| Aerial duels won | 100% (4/4) |
While the Frenchman did escape a yellow card during the clash with Bologna, he was sneaky enough with his fouls to avoid being cautioned, and that is always important in the Premier League.
Of course, his intervention in the defensive third, splitting up the opposition’s attack and launching into key tackles, but Villa would not have been the same without him turning the play over and firing his teammates up the pitch.
His stats speak for themselves, and that is exactly why Villa need him in the centre of the park if they are to claim victory against the Cottagers this weekend.
Donyell Malen
Donyell Malen‘s energy was almost contagious, helping to push Villa up the field, trying to catch out the opposition with his pressing, and ultimately, wearing himself out completely.
That is likely why he only lasted 58 minutes on the pitch, but if he continues getting more game time from Emery, he should be able to increase those numbers as the season continues.
The Dutchman caused absolute havoc in the final third, launching into challenges and feeding off scraps, but that is exactly the kind of character that the Villans are desperate for with the current situation.
Fulham’s defenders love to play out from the back. If Malen can replicate this performance on Sunday, Silva’s centre-backs will be running scared all the way back to London.