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Aston Villa vs. Tottenham Hotspur: match thread & how to watch

Spurs hope to salvage something before the international break.

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FBL-ENG-PR-ASTON VILLA-TOTTENHAM Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Here are the facts: Tottenham Hotspur is in a cup final. Tottenham Hotspur is six points back of fourth place, with a match in hand and two months to go. Tottenham Hotspur could still make this a somewhat successful season on paper.

The facts do not match the mood, however, and after Thursday’s shocking performance in Europe, most supporters are ready to pull the plug on this season — and this manager. It looks incredibly difficult for Jose Mourhino to be able to keep his job heading into next year, and it would surely take both a trophy and a top-four finish at the very least.

Spurs face Aston Villa on Sunday before next week’s international break. Due to Covid issues earlier thsis season, this will be the first time the two teams have seen each other. Tottenham won both fixtures last season, including a stolen victory by Heung-Min Son at the very end. Villa have been better this year after narrowly avoiding relegation and enter the weekend just behind Tottenham in the table.

There is not much else to say at this point. Spurs have the quality to put up a challenge over the final 10 matches, but the past few months have shown that this is quite unlikely to happen. A win today keeps the possibility alive, but how much faith can be put in a team that has consisntely fallen flat for months?

Lineups

How to Watch

Date: Sunday, March 21, 2021
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. UK
Location: Villa Park, Birmingham, England
TV: NBCSN (USA), Sky Sports Main Event (UK)
Streaming: NBCSports.com (USA), Sky GO Extra (UK)

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