Manchester United vs Aston Villa: Preview and H2H

Manchester United vs Aston Villa kicks off at 18:30 SAST on Sunday 8 November 2026 at Old Trafford, with Chris Kavanagh as referee. United are 17th on seven points after nine league games. Villa are 10th on 12 points, so the visitors arrive with a five-point cushion over their hosts.

United have just won a Champions League game, but their league form has been poor. Meanwhile, Villa have been strong at home in Europe and are looking for a response after a heavy defeat at Barcelona. This preview covers the kick-off details, the table, recent form, the head-to-head and what is at stake.

What time does Manchester United vs Aston Villa kick off in South Africa?

The match starts at 18:30 SAST on Sunday 8 November, which is 16:30 GMT, at Old Trafford in Manchester. Chris Kavanagh is the referee. It is the late slot of the Sunday programme, so it follows four games that kick off at 16:00 SAST.

Follow the match on our live scores page while it is on. In addition, our Premier League predictions hub lists every fixture in the round with links to each preview.

Where do Manchester United and Aston Villa stand in the Premier League table?

Aston Villa are 10th on 12 points, with three wins, three draws and three defeats. Manchester United are 17th on seven points, with one win, four draws and four defeats. The BBC Sport Premier League table confirms those positions, so the gap between the sides is five points.

Villa have scored 10 goals and conceded 13, a goal difference of minus three. United have scored 10 and conceded 15, a goal difference of minus five. Because both sides have leaked goals, the numbers suggest a match with chances at both ends.

The splits are telling. United have won one, drawn one and lost two of their four home league games. Villa, however, have won two, drawn one and lost one away from home. So Villa have the better away record than United have at home.

How has Manchester United’s form looked lately?

United have won one of their last seven matches in all competitions, drawing two and losing four. They scored six goals and conceded 15 over that run, which explains their position.

The sequence began with a 1-1 home draw against Tottenham on 10 October. Atlético Madrid then won 2-0 in the Champions League on 13 October, and Leeds held United 1-1 on 18 October. Como won 4-1 in the Champions League on 21 October, and Bournemouth won 3-0 at Old Trafford on 25 October. Chelsea then won 2-0 on 31 October, a game we covered in our Chelsea vs Manchester United report.

However, United did end the run with a 3-2 home win over AS Roma in the Champions League on 3 November, and you can read it in our Manchester United vs AS Roma report. As a result, they arrive with a win, even if the league form is still shaky.

How has Aston Villa’s form looked lately?

Villa have won four of their last seven matches in all competitions, drawing one and losing two. They scored 13 goals and conceded nine in that spell, which is a healthier balance than United’s.

Villa beat Fenerbahçe 6-0 at home in the Champions League on 14 October and won 1-0 at Newcastle on 17 October. Then they beat Viking 3-1 at home on 21 October and beat Manchester City 2-1 at Villa Park on 24 October. Bournemouth knocked them out of the League Cup with a 3-0 win on 28 October, and Villa drew 1-1 with Fulham at home on 31 October.

Barcelona then beat Villa 3-0 in the Champions League on 3 November. Even so, that was only their second defeat in the seven games, so the run is still better than United’s. Our Barcelona vs Aston Villa preview covers the build-up to that night.

What does the head-to-head record say?

United have dominated the recent meetings. In the last eight games in all competitions, United won six, Villa won one and one was drawn. United scored 16 goals and Villa scored eight.

The latest meeting was a 3-1 United home win in the Premier League on 15 March 2026. Villa won 2-1 at Villa Park on 21 December 2025, which is their only win in the eight. Before that, United won 2-0 at Old Trafford on 25 May 2025, and the two drew 0-0 at Villa Park on 6 October 2024.

At Old Trafford, the record is even firmer. United have won all five of the home meetings in this set, in November 2022, April 2023, December 2023, May 2025 and March 2026. Therefore, history favours the hosts, although the current league positions say otherwise.

What is at stake for both teams?

For United, a win would lift them to 10 points and, as things stand, lift them above Coventry and Fulham, who are both on nine points, and above Crystal Palace, who are on seven. A defeat would leave them on seven and still in the bottom four, with a derby-style trip to Liverpool on 22 November next.

For Villa, a win would take them to 15 points. That would put them level with Liverpool, who are sixth. A defeat would leave them on 12 and in the middle of a tight pack, since Tottenham, Hull, Leeds, Newcastle and Ipswich are all within one point.

No injuries or suspensions were listed for either side at the time of writing. Still, check the official club channels for team news before kick-off.

What are the quick answers about Manchester United vs Aston Villa?

The short answers below cover kick-off, the table, the head-to-head and the next fixtures.

What time does Manchester United vs Aston Villa kick off in South Africa?

The match kicks off at 18:30 SAST on Sunday 8 November 2026 at Old Trafford, which is 16:30 GMT. Chris Kavanagh is the referee.

Where are Manchester United and Aston Villa in the Premier League table?

Aston Villa are 10th on 12 points from nine games. Manchester United are 17th on seven points from nine games, with one win, four draws and four defeats.

Who has the better head-to-head record, Manchester United or Aston Villa?

United have won six of the last eight meetings in all competitions, Villa have won one, and one game was a draw. United have won all five of those games at Old Trafford.

When do Manchester United and Aston Villa play next?

United visit Liverpool on 22 November and Sporting CP in the Champions League on 25 November. Villa host Sunderland on 21 November and visit Galatasaray on 24 November.

The match is now over: read our Manchester United vs Aston Villa report for the 4-4 draw.