Aston Villa, under the guidance of Unai Emery, enter this clash in fine form following their 3-1 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Villans have carried their momentum from last season, where they finished fourth in the Premier League, into the new campaign. They’ve secured four wins out of five league matches and have positioned themselves comfortably in third place. Adding to their domestic success, Villa also kicked off their Champions League journey with a victory over Young Boys, making them one of the most in-form teams in Europe at the moment.

Their opponents, Wycombe Wanderers, currently reside in League One and secured a 2-1 win over Cambridge United last weekend. Despite Wycombe’s commendable start to their season, earning 10 points from six games, they’ve shown weaknesses in recent losses to Birmingham and Wrexham. Villa, with their superior quality and depth, are expected to field a strong lineup, with many of their first-team players eager to build on the positive start. The gap in class between the two sides seems too large for Wycombe to overcome, making Aston Villa heavy favourites to win this encounter.

Aston Villa have been one of the most entertaining teams to watch this season, largely due to their attacking prowess. Players like Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran, and Morgan Rogers have contributed significantly to their goal-scoring tally, which has led to many high-scoring encounters. The 3-1 win over Wolves marked the fifth time in Villa’s six competitive fixtures this season that more than 2.5 goals were scored. Emery’s side has a relentless approach to attacking football, and they have been clinical in breaking down opposition defences.

Wycombe Wanderers, despite playing in a lower division, have also been involved in several goal-heavy matches. The Chairboys have seen over 2.5 goals in each of their last four games, showcasing that they too are susceptible to conceding, but can find the back of the net themselves. Given both teams’ recent form, especially Villa’s dominance in attack and Wycombe’s vulnerability at the back, the likelihood of this being another high-scoring match is substantial. Fans at Adams Park should expect a goal-filled contest, with Villa’s superior firepower likely to be the decisive factor.

Jhon Duran has been one of the breakout stars of Aston Villa’s campaign. Despite being behind Ollie Watkins in the pecking order for much of the season, the Colombian forward has made the most of his opportunities, delivering match-winning performances against West Ham, Leicester, and Everton. His ability to find space and get shots on target has not gone unnoticed. Duran is currently averaging 3.50 shots on target per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 1% of players across major European leagues in this category.

Even when factoring in last season’s statistics, Duran maintained a top-2% ranking with an average of 1.76 shots on target per 90 minutes. Given his expected start against Wycombe, he’s poised to play a more prominent role in Villa’s attack, which should result in multiple scoring opportunities. With the lower-tier opposition providing a potentially more open game, it’s highly likely that Duran will be testing the Wycombe goalkeeper and landing at least one shot on target during the match.

Aston Villa’s attacking play has been central to their success this season, and this has been reflected in their ability to win corners in abundance. Emery’s team has averaged 5.25 corners per game across all competitions, with their last three outings against Wolves, Club Brugge, and Everton seeing Villa earn at least six corners per match. This highlights the team’s consistent pressure on opposing defences and their ability to create opportunities from wide areas.

Wycombe Wanderers, on the other hand, have shown vulnerabilities in defending set pieces, including corners. In their recent games, Swansea, Northampton, and Blackpool all managed to earn at least five corners against them. Given Villa’s relentless attack and Wycombe’s susceptibility, it’s reasonable to expect a high corner count for the visitors.

As previously mentioned, the gap in class here is massive. Emery’s Villa escaped a narrow scare at the weekend coming from behind to beat bottom-side and rivals Wolves. While Wanderers themselves picked up a narrow win against Cambridge, it’s hard to see this high-flying Villa side not progressing to the next round.

Aston Villa’s impressive start to the season has been somewhat overshadowed by a surprising vulnerability at the back. Despite their strong performances, they’ve struggled to keep clean sheets, with defensive lapses becoming a recurring issue. In fact, bar a 1-0 Champions League win against Young Boys, Emery’s side have conceded in every match this season. Premier League sides like Wolves, Everton, Leicester, Arsenal, and West Ham have all found ways past Villa’s defence, exposing some cracks that could be a concern moving forward.

Wycombe Wanderers, while a League One team, have demonstrated a sharp attacking edge this season. They’ve averaged two goals per game in league play and have been particularly prolific in recent fixtures, scoring 11 goals in their last four matches. This attacking form could pose a real threat to Villa’s defence, especially given Villa’s ongoing struggles at the back. Wycombe will undoubtedly look to capitalize on any defensive errors and will feel confident they can get on the scoresheet, making the BTTS market a strong possibility in this match.

Jhon Duran has quickly become a fan favourite at Aston Villa due to his impactful performances, often coming off the bench to deliver crucial goals. The Colombian forward, who was highly sought after during the summer transfer window, has already bagged four goals this season, including match-winners against Everton, West Ham, and Leicester. His ability to step up in key moments has earned him a reputation as a reliable goal scorer, despite playing limited minutes behind first-choice striker Ollie Watkins.

In this clash against Wycombe, Duran is expected to start, giving him a rare chance to showcase his talent from the opening whistle. Facing a Wycombe defence that has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four games, Duran will be relishing the opportunity to add to his goal tally. At 2.50 to score anytime, Duran’s goal-scoring ability, combined with Wycombe’s defensive struggles, makes this a strong value bet. Given his form, Duran is well-positioned to find the back of the net at Adams Park.

When it comes to corners, both Aston Villa and Wycombe Wanderers have been involved in matches that frequently see a high number of set-piece opportunities. Wycombe’s last five games have seen an average of 9.6 corners per match, with 60% of those matches featuring nine or more corners. Even in the games where the number fell short, the total corners were still relatively high, with at least seven in each case, demonstrating a consistent pattern.

Aston Villa’s matches have also been filled with corner-taking opportunities. Their last three matches alone have all seen at least nine corners, further highlighting their aggressive, attack-focused style of play that naturally leads to corner situations. With Villa’s wide players and fullbacks often delivering crosses into the box and Wycombe likely to play on the counter, the potential for numerous corners in this clash seems high. The 1.57 odds for nine or more corners offer solid value, given both teams’ tendencies to generate corner situations in their recent games.