Manchester United Hosts Aston Villa in Crucial Final Match of the Season

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United faces Aston Villa on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in a crucial matchup that could impact their placement in the Premier League. United currently sits 16th with 39 points, while Villa is in sixth place with 66 points, vying for a Champions League spot.

United will be without Lisandro Martinez, who is recovering from a long-term injury, and Matthijs de Ligt, who was absent from the Europa League final squad earlier this week. In contrast, Villa looks to boost its chances of European football, with Youri Tielemans returning to training after missing two matches due to a calf injury.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery can also count on Jacob Ramsey, who has served his suspension, yet must manage without loanee Marcus Rashford, ineligible to play against his parent club. Villa’s impressive form includes winning nine of their last eleven Premier League games.

Meanwhile, United’s dismal season has reached a new low after losing to Tottenham in the Europa League final, marking their 20th defeat in all competitions. They have struggled immensely in the league, going winless in their last eight matches. A loss to Villa could see them conclude the season with significantly more than half their league matches lost.

The clash at Old Trafford represents a final opportunity for United to cheer their home fans with a victory. Historically, United leads the all-time series against Villa, winning 40 of their past encounters. However, Villa has earned eight points from the last seven league matches against United, indicating it could be a competitive fixture.

As both teams prepare for kickoff, the stakes couldn’t be higher for either side, with Villa desiring Champions League qualification and United wanting to salvage pride from a disappointing season.