FA Cup Preview: Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa Prediction, Preview, and Odds (Jan 6)

• Aston Villa looking to continue their excellent season when they open their FA Cup campaign on Saturday
• Middlesbrough have already impressed in domestic cup competition this term after reaching the last four of the League Cup

One of the most interesting FA Cup fixtures to take place on Saturday will come from the Riverside Stadium, as Middlesbrough look to cause a shock when they welcome Aston Villa. Boro have already reached the last four of the League Cup, but they will be massive outsiders against Premier League opposition this weekend.

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How To Watch

• When: Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 12:30 p.m ET
• Where: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, England
• How To Watch: ESPN

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Odds

Match Result	Odds
Middlesbrough
Draw
Aston Villa

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Match Preview

It has been a stunning first half to the domestic season for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, but their attention will switch to the FA Cup this weekend. Villa will need a massive improvement in the competition, as they have lost each of their last eight matches in the FA Cup. In fact, no side across the top two divisions have ever lost nine consecutive matches in the competition.

Middlesbrough don’t have the best record against Villa, having gone five without a victory against their West Midlands rivals across all competitions. Villa have won four matches over that period, which includes 3-0 victories in each of the previous two encounters during the 2018-19 Championship campaign.

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All 👀 on the #EmiratesFACup. pic.twitter.com/ljpoclMxii

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 3, 2024

However, this will be the first time that the sides have collided in the FA Cup since January 1957. On that occasion, Villa recorded a 3-2 win. The Villains also ended that campaign by winning the competition. But, Villa have exited the FA Cup in the third round in each of the last four seasons since returning to the Premier League in 2019.

It is also worth considering Middlesbrough’s poor record against top-flight opposition in the competition. Boro are winless in their last five ties against Premier League sides, which includes a 5-1 loss against Brighton last term. Their most recent win against a top-flight side in the competition was against Bradford City in 2000-01.

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Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa Prediction

This should be a very interesting showdown in the FA Cup this weekend, and cases can be made for both sides. However, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the sides play out a draw on Saturday, before Villa book their spot in the fourth round in a replay.

Free Pick: