We’ve taken a look at the stats ahead of Go Ahead Eagles Vs Aston Villa in the Europa League, and the data shows why Aston Villa are better off letting their opponents control possession.
Villa head to the Netherlands to take on Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday night.
So far, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will be delighted with his side’s start to their European campaign.
The Midlands club have won their opening two games, beating Feyenoord and Bologna without conceding a goal.
In the Premier League, a slow start put them under early pressure, but they have since found some good form, winning three on the bounce to climb up the table to 11th, just three points below the top four.
Villa’s relegation odds were slashed at one stage, but with them now unbeaten in eight in all competitions, such talk has quickly stopped.
Go Ahead Eagles, meanwhile, are 12th in the Dutch Eredivisie, with only two wins from their opening nine league games.
In Europe, they beat Greek outfit Panathinaikos 2-1 away from home, after losing their opener 1-0 to Romanian side FCSB.
Looking ahead to this one, Aston Villa are 19/50 favourites with most football betting sites, while Go Ahead Eagles are priced around 13/2.
But before the action gets underway, we at SportsCasting have analysed some key stats, which reveal why Villa shouldn’t look to dominate possession in Deventer.
Time for Europa League and time for the Villa — IT'S MATCHDAY 😆 pic.twitter.com/yDA7T4tnHQ
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 23, 2025
Go Ahead Eagles Vs Aston Villa Stats
There’s not much data to go on in terms of Go Ahead Eagles’ record against British opponents.
They have never faced an English team in Europe, and haven’t played a British team since losing 7-0 on aggregate to Celtic in 1965-66.
Villa, meanwhile, are unbeaten in six European games against Dutch opponents, with five wins and a draw.
They have already beaten Feyenoord in a game where they controlled possession throughout.
But the data shows that may not be the best idea when they face Go Ahead Eagles tonight.
The Eagles have averaged 70.4% possession when losing in Europe this season.
When drawing, that figure falls to 39.5%, and just 12.3% when winning.
Such numbers suggest the Eagles are very comfortable out of possession, and at their best when able to sit men behind the ball and break quickly.
With Villa’s opponents on Thursday averaging far higher possession when losing, it indicates they struggle to break down a compact defence and pose little threat against a well-organised outfit.
Aston Villa’s best bet may therefore be to let the hosts dominate the ball, drawing them forward in order to hit them in transition.
We're the early @EuropaLeague kick-off today ⏰
Where will you be watching from, Villans? ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/U2DltFwWrA
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 23, 2025
Aston Villa Results In 2025-26
As well as Go Ahead Eagles’ possession stats, Villa’s own performances this season indicate they are better when they don’t have as much of the ball.
Below, we have listed each of Aston Villa’s results this season, along with their possession stats in that game.
- W 2-1 Vs Tottenham – 47% possession
- W 2-1 Vs Burnley – 55% possession
- W 2-0 Vs Feyenoord – 59% possession
- W 3-1 Vs Fulham – 48% possession
- W 1-0 Vs Bologna – 47% possession
- D 1-1 Vs Sunderland – 71% possession
- D 1-1 Vs Brentford – 54% possession
- D 0-0 Vs Everton – 51% possession
- L 3-0 Vs Crystal Palace – 58% possession
- L 1-0 Vs Brentford – 76% possession
- D 0-0 Vs Newcastle – 40% possession
Of Villa’s 11 games so far this season, they have had more then 50% possession seven times.
They have won just two of those games, drawing three and losing two.
Conversely, they have recorded under 50% possession four times this season, winning three of those games and drawing one.
- Over 50% possession – P7 W2 D3 L2
- Under 50% possession – P4 W3 D1
As a result, it seems that Villa have performed better when their opponents have had more of the ball.
Go Ahead Eagles Vs Aston Villa Prediction
Villa go in to this one with a number of major doubts in terms of fitness.
Ollie Watkins withdrew from England’s recent World Cup qualifiers with a knee problem, but came off the bench on Sunday.
It’s not yet clear if he’s fit enough to start, but Emery will be keen to have his main man back fit and firing.
Tyrone Mings is also a doubt with an ankle issue, while Youri Tielemans remains sidelined due to a calf strain.
For the Eagles, Pim Saathof and Soren Tengstedt are out, along with Swedish forward Victor Edvardsen, who recently underwent knee surgery.
With both sides missing a few starters, Villa’s squad depth could be a major factor.
The Premier League outfit have found their form, with five wins on the bounce in all competitions.
Aston Villa are unbeaten in eight since losing to Crystal Palace in August, and the stats show reason for their winning run to come to and end against Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday.
Go Ahead Eagles Predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
De Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Meulensteen, Linthorst; Suray, Breum, Margaret; Smit
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Onana, Kamara; Malen, Buendia, McGinn; Watkins
Prediction: Go Ahead Eagles 0-2 Aston Villa
