When a club sitting fourth in the Premier League travels to face one in 13th place, the starting elevens usually write themselves. But Bournemouth versus Aston Villa on 7 February 2026 came with enough doubt and selection intrigue to make even seasoned scouts reach for their note pads twice.

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Date: 7 Feb 2026 · Venue: Vitality Stadium · Bournemouth Predicted GK: Djordje Petrovic · Aston Villa Predicted GK: Martínez · Competition: Premier League

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Match took place 7 Feb 2026 at 15:00 UTC at Vitality Stadium (Sofascore)
  • Final score: 1-1 draw — Rogers (Villa) 22′, Rayan (Bournemouth) 55′ (Sofascore)
  • Aston Villa 4th, Bournemouth 13th at time of match (Sofascore)
2What’s unclear
  • Whether Morgan Rogers starts were pre-planned or reactive to Watkins fitness
  • Exact minutes managed for Onana after reported muscle fatigue midweek
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Villa resume Champions League qualification race with three matches remaining (Sports Mole)
  • Bournemouth target mid-table consolidation with six games left (Sports Mole)

The following table consolidates match facts, head-to-head data, and performance metrics for quick reference.

Fact Detail
Match Date 7 Feb 2026
Stadium Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
League Premier League
Bournemouth Position 13th
Aston Villa Position 4th
Final Score 1-1
Villa Goalscorer Morgan Rogers (22′)
Bournemouth Goalscorer Rayan (55′)
H2H Meetings 12 (Villa 6 wins, Bournemouth 4 wins, 2 draws)
Earlier Season Result Villa won 4-0 at Villa Park (Sporting News)
Rogers PL Goals This Season 7 (Sports Mole)
Bournemouth Owner Bill Foley

Why is Aston Villa vs Bournemouth delayed?

The match between Bournemouth and Aston Villa took place as scheduled on 7 February 2026, at 15:00 UTC at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, England. No delay was recorded for this fixture.

Bottom line: Both clubs arrived at Vitality Stadium on the date, time, and venue listed in official Premier League records. The fixture fell within Matchweek 25 and proceeded without postponement.

The implication: the lack of delay validates the Premier League’s decision to press ahead with the fixture, despite the fitness doubts surrounding key players for both clubs.

Who is the 17 year old player in Aston Villa?

Aston Villa signed 17-year-old Egyptian football talent Omar Khedr during the January transfer window. The teenager joined Villa’s youth setup and was not included in matchday squads for the Bournemouth fixture, as new signings typically require time to adapt to Premier League intensity before featuring. Villa also recruited Alysson during the same window, though that player was not available for selection against Bournemouth.

Youth recruitment context

Villa’s January activity signals long-term planning rather than immediate first-team reinforcement. Neither Omar Khedr nor Alysson featured in the matchday squad for Bournemouth, according to AVillaFan reports.

The implication: the signings signal Villa’s intent to build squad depth for future seasons rather than chase short-term results in the Champions League race.

Is Jack Grealish suspended for the Aston Villa game?

Jack Grealish returned from suspension to face his former side in this fixture. After serving a ban in previous league action, Grealish was available for selection on 7 February 2026. Unai Emery had the option to name him in Villa’s matchday squad as the club aimed to protect Champions League places after three wins in their last six Premier League fixtures.

Player availability context

GreAlish’s return added creative options wide for Villa. Whether he started or featured from the bench depended on Emery’s tactical assessment and the fitness status of other attacking players.

The implication: Grealish’s availability gave Emery an extra dimension against Bournemouth’s defensive structure, but the manager’s call on whether to start him depended on how he weighed the opponent’s approach against Villa’s broader squad needs.

Aston villa vs afc bournemouth lineups prediction

Both teams took to the pitch in a 4-2-3-1 formation on matchday. Bournemouth named Djordje Petrovic between the posts behind a back four of Álex Jiménez, James Hill, Marcos Senesi, and Adrien Truffert. Alex Scott and Lewis Cook anchored the midfield, with Rayan, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Amine Adli operating behind striker Evanilson.

Aston Villa countered with Emiliano Martínez in goal behind Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, and Lucas Digne. Amadou Onana and Douglas Luiz formed the midfield pivot, while Jadon Sancho and Emiliano Buendía stretched play wide behind striker Ollie Watkins.

Lineup accuracy

Sports Mole’s pre-match predictions closely mirrored the confirmed XIs, correctly identifying Petrovic, Jiménez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Scott, and Cook for Bournemouth and Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Onana, and Luiz for Villa. The only notable divergence: predicted Villa striker Tammy Abraham did not start, with Watkins preferred despite reported fitness doubt.

Predicted Bournemouth lineup

Andoni Iraola retained the lineup that secured the 2-0 victory over Wolves. The Cherries entered the fixture on a positive trajectory, having won their previous match, which unlikely prompted the manager to disrupt a winning formula. Injuries had already depleted Bournemouth’s options, reducing rotation flexibility.

Injury toll on Bournemouth

Marcus Tavernier (hamstring), Tyler Adams (knee), Ben Gannon Doak (thigh), Justin Kluivert (knee), Julio Soler (unspecified), and Will Dennis (ankle) were all ruled out. David Brooks (ankle) was listed as doubtful, according to Sports Mole’s team news report.

The implication: Iraola’s decision to stick with the same eleven proved sound given the limited squad depth available — the Wolves result gave him a blueprint he trusted against a stronger opponent.

Predicted Aston Villa lineup

Villa’s selection puzzle centered on whether Watkins recovered sufficiently from hamstring concerns to lead the line. Emery confirmed on the Friday that both Watkins and Onana were ready to start if selected, providing selection clarity ahead of kick-off. Ross Barkley’s return to the matchday squad offered midfield depth options.

Villa injury list

Youri Tielemans (ankle), Boubacar Kamara (knee), John McGinn (knee), and Andres Garcia (thigh) missed the fixture. Ollie Watkins (hamstring), Amadou Onana (muscle fatigue), and Alysson (knee) carried fitness concerns into matchweek, as reported by Sports Mole.

Bottom line: The implication: Emery’s gamble on selecting both Watkins and Onana paid off — both started and contributed to a competitive away performance, though the dropped points in the Champions League race will have frustrated the manager.

Aston Villa vs Bournemouth stats

The 12 previous Premier League meetings between these clubs before February 2026 showed Villa winning six encounters and Bournemouth four, with two draws. Villa sought their first double over Bournemouth after winning the reverse fixture 4-0 at Villa Park earlier in the season.

Head-to-head results

Bournemouth had not won in six attempts against Aston Villa across all competitions. Their most recent encounter before the 1-1 draw saw Villa dominate in the earlier 4-0 result. The pattern suggested Villa’s recent dominance, though Bournemouth’s home advantage and recent form against Wolves introduced uncertainty.

Emery told reporters on Friday that both striker Ollie Watkins and Amadou Onana are ready to go and in contention to start against Bournemouth if selected.

Andoni Iraola is unlikely to make alterations to the lineup that triumphed against Wolves.

Rogers’s seven Premier League goals have been worth 11 points to Villa this season.

The pattern: the first two quotes frame the selection decisions Emery and Iraola each faced, while the third quantifies Morgan Rogers’ direct impact on Villa’s season — a reminder that individual quality can decide tightly contested matches against well-organised opponents.

Upsides

  • Bournemouth arrived on confidence after 2-0 Wolves win
  • Villa secured a point away from home despite missing key midfielders
  • Morgan Rogers continued his seven-goal scoring form
  • Ross Barkley returned to boost Villa squad depth

Downsides

  • Villa dropped points in Champions League race after prior Brentford defeat
  • Bournemouth missed seven first-team players through injury
  • Both teams received yellow cards by 35th minute
  • Villa failed to complete double over Bournemouth

Related reading: Premier League 2025/26 Fixtures & Results · Gemma Owen Love Island

Additional sources

avillafan.com, sportsgambler.com, onefootball.com, youtube.com, whoscored.com, youtube.com, premierleague.com

Related coverage: Bournemouth vs Aston Villa lineups fördjupar bilden av Bournemouth vs Aston Villa: Results, Lineups, Stats & Highlights.

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Frequently asked questions

What time does Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth start?

Kick-off was at 15:00 UTC on 7 February 2026 at Vitality Stadium.

Where can I watch Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth live?

The match was broadcast live in the UK via Sky Sports and available on streaming platforms with Premier League rights.

What was the predicted score for Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth?

Pre-match previews did not publish a specific score prediction. Both teams were considered capable of scoring, with Morgan Rogers and Evanilson highlighted as key attacking threats.

Who were the referees for Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth?

Official match officials were confirmed by Premier League records on matchday. The referee assignments can be verified through the match centre on Premier League’s official platform.

What were the injury updates for Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth?

Villa listed four players out: Tielemans, Kamara, McGinn, and Garcia. Three were doubtful: Watkins, Onana, and Alysson. Bournemouth had six out and one doubtful (Brooks), according to Sports Mole team news reports.

How to buy tickets for Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth?

Tickets for Premier League fixtures are available through official club websites and the Premier League ticketing portal. Away allocations are managed through the visiting club’s membership scheme.

What was the weather forecast for the match?

February weather in Bournemouth typically sees temperatures between 4°C and 10°C with possible rain. No weather-related match disruption was reported for this fixture.

Bottom line: Aston Villa and Bournemouth split the points in a competitive 1-1 draw at Vitality Stadium. For Villa, the result represents a missed opportunity in the Champions League race — two dropped points against a side sitting 13th when wins elsewhere closed the gap. Morgan Rogers’s 22nd-minute opener showed why his seven-goal season matters, yet Rayan’s 55th-minute equaliser exposed defensive lapses that will frustrate Emery. For Bournemouth, a point against a top-four side feels like progress given their extensive injury list, though Andoni Iraola’s men have now gone seven matches without a win over Villa. The tactical lesson is clear: Villa cannot afford to switch off after taking leads against sides they consider inferior.