Talking Tactics: Aston Villa (A) —“Close, But No Cigar!”

Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris during the Premier League match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Sunday April 19, 2026. (Photo by Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images Sunderland travelled to Villa Park on Sunday lunchtime with the race for European football firmly on following victory over a wounded Spurs side, but with Aston Villa fresh off a Europa League beatdown of Bologna in midweek, Régis Le Bris faced a tough ask to take points back to Wearside.

Even though we twice came from behind and almost snatched a last-gasp winner, Sunderland left empty-handed, so how did Unai Emery figure out Le Bris’ number and swipe all three points at Villa Park? Sunderland lineup Despite Le Bris noting that one of his absentees in Dan Ballard had trained all week and was to travel, he opted to retain an unchanged starting eleven — which hasn’t been too common of an occurrence this season. After solid performances against Spurs, both Chris Rigg and Luke O’Nien held their places in the side as Sunderland were able to add more strength in depth to their bench.

With no recognised right winger available until the return of either Nilson Angulo or Bertrand Traoré, Rigg and Enzo Le Fée manned both the wings in what’s becoming the norm for Sunderland as they look to stack the midfield with technical ball players behind Brian Brobbey. With Granit Xhaka anchored at the base of the midfield alongside Noah Sadiki, the inversions of Le Fée and Rigg almost create a diamond at times in a narrow 4-2-2-2 shape as Habib Diarra transitioned between pressing alongside Brobbey and operating within the half-spaces behind him. Aston Villa lineup Although the hosts played at Villa Park on Thursday night, a 6-1 aggregate score allowed many of Emery’s big hitters to be withdrawn on the hour mark and he was therefore able to field much of the same side that played on Thursday.

Three changes were made however, with Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Emi Buendia all dropping out to be replaced by Ross Barkley, Ian Maatsen and Tyrone Mings. Elsewhere, the ever-present John McGinn partnered Morgan Rogers whilst Ollie Watkins lead the line as he’s done so well during his tenure at Villa Park. As in the reverse fixture, Emery likes to play a similar style whether home or away, looking to dominate the ball and play a controlled possession game which relies on consistent wing play and the willingness to be patient until the opposition dive in or make a mistake.