CHAMPIONSHIP Preston and Premier League Aston Villa clash in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final showdown at Deepdale.
SunSport betting experts have previewed the contest and selected the best bets, tips and exclusive sign-up bonuses from our leading betting partners.
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Preston vs Aston Villa preview
Preston North End, the only club outside the Premier League still left in the FA Cup, clash with Aston Villa in Sunday's quarter-final.
And it's no secret who the bookies fancy having backed Unai Emery's side to justify their top-flight status with odds of 1/5 to progress.
On paper, it appears to be a straightforward task for the visitors, who are enjoying a good run of form.
The Villans have won five of their last six matches across all competitions, putting themselves within four points of fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League.
Aston Villa also know a thing or two about knockout football, having reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season.
However, success in the FA Cup has eluded them for some time.
While they have lifted the trophy seven times, their last triumph came in 1957. In recent years, the competition hasn't exactly been kind to them, as they have been eliminated in the third round in seven of their last nine campaigns.
Sunday’s encounter against a mid-table Championship side should provide an opportunity for Villa to break that streak and book a place at Wembley for the first time since the 2014/15 season, when they reached the final only to suffer a crushing 4-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal.
For Preston, this match represents a rare chance to make history.
The Lilywhites have won the FA Cup twice before, in 1888–89 and 1937–38, and this quarter-final marks their best run in the tournament since reaching the semi-finals in the 2020/21 campaign.
Paul Heckingbottom’s men have fought their way past Charlton, Wycombe, and Burnley to reach this stage, but Premier League opposition presents an entirely different challenge.
Currently sitting 14th in the Championship, Preston’s form has been mixed, with just two wins in their last eight matches in all competitions.
However, they have proven to be a resilient side, suffering only two defeats in that stretch.
Preston vs Aston Villa preview betting odds
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
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Preston vs Aston Villa preview betting tips and predictions
Goalscorer
Marco Asensio is in sensational form.
The Spanish attacker, 29, is clearly loving life in the Midlands having struck SEVEN goals in eight appearances for Unai Emery's side – including a brace in the last round against Cardiff.
Asensio enjoyed a rest (aside from scoring against Al-Ain in a friendly) over the international break, so should start from the off as Villa seek to book a place in next month's semi-finals.
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First goalscorer and correct score predictions
Preston vs Aston Villa
- First goalscorer: Marco Asensio at 5/1 with talkSPORT BET – CLAIM HERE
- Correct score: 0-2 at 13/2 with Betfred – CLAIM HERE
Goals? Unlikely
Aston Villa should secure safe passage to the next round but it's unlikely to be an emphatic scoreline.
Preston have an extremely impressive record at Deepdale having gone a colossal 15 games without defeat (W7, D8). During that spell they've registered six clean sheets and haven't conceded more than once!
In fact, they have only lost three home games by more than a one-goal margin in the 2024/25 campaign – and one of those was against Premier League Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
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