/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia-eurosport.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fbetting%2F2026%2F10%2FBournemouth-vs.-Aston-Villa.png)
Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Wednesday, 28 October, 19:45 GMT
Bournemouth host Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday in a fourth-round Carabao Cup tie between two of the Premier League's in-form sides. Marco Rose's Cherries have won four of their last five games, as have Unai Emery's Lions, who also arrive unbeaten in seven.
A place in the quarter-finals is at stake, but given that both sides have top-flight fixtures to turn their attention to just three days later, heavy rotation is expected.
Preview: Bournemouth vs Aston Villa form guide
Bournemouth have won four matches on the bounce across all competitions, including a 3-0 win away at Manchester United on Sunday, an emphatic response to a 5-1 defeat away at Chelsea on October 10.
Rose's side also beat AC Milan 3-0 in a Europa League showdown that will go down in club history, and saw off Sturm Graz by the same scoreline during run that has produced 12 goals in five matches.
It would be fair to say that the Cherries' recent success has marked a turning point under their new manager, considering that both of their Premier League wins this season have come amidst their ongoing streak of victories.
Bournemouth eased into this round with a 4-0 win over Lincoln City, and Rose is expected to make widespread changes again with Leeds visiting the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Michele Di Gregorio, on a season-long loan from Juventus, is expected to continue in goal for cup duty, and David Brooks could make only his second start since September 8, while Eli Junior Kroupi is in line for more minutes from the bench after a long-term injury lay-off.
Aston Villa go into Wednesday's tie unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions, winning six of them, most recently a 2-1 victory over Manchester City that ended the Sky Blues' unbeaten start to the season. Nicolas Jackson scored both goals in that win and is expected to be rested here.
Emery's side have also won all three of their Champions League league-phase matches so far, including a show-stopping 6-0 triumph over Fenerbahce.
Much like Bournemouth, Villa started the campaign in poor form, and their recent unbeaten run includes all three of their Premier League wins this term.
Villa reached this round with a 3-1 win over Coventry City in which Tammy Abraham scored twice, and Emery is expected to rotate heavily again with Fulham visiting Villa Park on Saturday.
Leon Goretzka joined Villa as a free agent from Bayern Munich in August, but a knee injury delayed his first appearance until earlier this month. Wednesday's tie represents a realistic chance of a first start for the club.
Team news and predicted lineups: Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
Bournemouth team news
Julian Araujo, Alex Scott and Alex Toth are all sidelined for Bournemouth, while Veljko Milosavljevic is a doubt with a knock.
Captain Adam Smith is expected to start at right-back, with Lewis Cook also available in midfield.
Rose is expected to make widespread changes from the side that won at Old Trafford, giving several fringe players a chance to impress before Saturday's league fixture.
Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Aston Villa
Di Gregorio; Smith, Hill, Diakite, Soler; Cook, Christie; Brooks, Adli, Gannon-Doak; Rodriguez
Aston Villa team news
Amadou Onana remains a long-term absentee after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing for Belgium at the World Cup, with a return not expected until April.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Matteo Ruggeri are both sidelined with hamstring injuries, while Modou Keba Cisse remains unavailable as he builds fitness.
Alejandro Garnacho, on loan from Chelsea, and Tammy Abraham are both expected among the substitutes rather than starting, though George Hemmings could make the XI.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Bournemouth
Bizot; Bogarde, Harwood-Bellis, Torres, Mings; Barkley, Goretzka; Mbaye, Buendia, Hemmings; Madjo
Head-to-head: Bournemouth vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa have won eight of the 17 meetings between the two clubs, with Bournemouth winning five and four ending level. Wednesday's tie will be the first time the sides have met in the League Cup.
The most recent clash ended 1-1 at the Vitality Stadium in February, continuing a recent trend of tight contests between the sides, given that three of their last six Premier League showdowns have finished as draws.
However, it is notable that the Cherries did not come out on top in any of those six matches, losing three times, having last beaten the Lions 2-0 in August 2022.
Villa's heaviest win in the fixture came at Villa Park last November, a 4-0 scoreline, while Bournemouth's own record win dates back to a 3-0 success in October 1971.
Our Bournemouth vs Aston Villa prediction and betting tips
Odds correct as of Monday, 26 October 2026, 20:30 GMT.
- Goalscorers: Madjo and Buendia on target for Villa
- Goalscorer: Rodriguez replies for Bournemouth
- Both teams to score and Aston Villa to progress to the quarter-finals
Anthony is an avid Liverpool fan that covers football and the World Cup on TNT Sports. A few seasons deep into his work writing for a number of sites such as Sports Mole and Football Ground Guide, he regularly previews upcoming clashes and pens features about the latest and greatest in the beautiful game. Anthony is looking forward to writing about how the Reds continue to spend the Coutinho money.