Aston Villa Faces Crystal Palace Without Struggling Maatsen

Birmingham, England – Aston Villa heads to Selhurst Park on Tuesday, February 25, to face Crystal Palace, potentially without Ian Maatsen following a disappointing performance in their recent 2-1 victory over Chelsea. The Villans aim to secure two consecutive wins in the Premier League after recent success at Villa Park.

Manager Unai Emery may consider multiple lineup changes, with the axing of Maatsen a possibility after a lackluster display against Chelsea. The full-back’s contribution has been underwhelming since his summer signing, leading to concerns among fans.

Maatsen’s defensive struggles were evident in the clash against Chelsea, where he failed to effectively contain Pedro Neto, who assisted Enzo Fernandez‘s opening goal. Although Villa emerged victorious, Maatsen’s performance raised alarms, as he managed only 50% success in tackles and was outmatched in four duels, committing one foul.

Furthermore, Maatsen’s offensive contributions were minimal, with only three passes into the final third and a mere 25% completion rate for crosses. Given Crystal Palace’s attacking threats, Emery may opt to place Lucas Digne back in the lineup to address these concerns.

Villa’s squad depth has improved with the inclusion of new signings such as Donyell Malen and Marco Asensio, who have shown immediate impact. Malen, in particular, has captured attention with his performances, and this attacking prowess could compensate for defensive deficiencies.

To bolster the backline for the upcoming challenge, Emery might also reinstate Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash, who could provide much-needed stability as Villa pursues a clean sheet. As the match approaches, it remains to be seen whether Maatsen will maintain his spot in the starting XI, considering recent critiques of his performance.