Villa’s FA Cup Fourth-Round Clash with Spurs: A Fixture with European Implications
Aston Villa’s FA Cup fourth-round tie date against Tottenham Hotspur has been officially confirmed. Unai Emery’s side will host Spurs at Villa Park on Sunday, February 9, with kick-off set for 5.35pm. The game will be broadcast live on BBC One, offering a prime-time spectacle.
While the matchup itself is an enticing prospect, the scheduling could present significant challenges for Villa if they don’t secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League league stage.
The Champions League Dilemma
Should Villa fail to finish in the top eight of their Champions League league stage at the end of January, they’ll find themselves in the knockout play-off round, with matches scheduled for February 11/12 and 18/19. If Villa are drawn to play on Tuesday, February 11, it would result in a 48-hour turnaround from the FA Cup tie against Spurs – a potential logistical and fitness nightmare.
Villa’s Potential Disadvantage
Such a quick turnaround between high-stakes matches could leave Emery with little choice but to heavily rotate his squad, risking the FA Cup clash being a weakened effort in favour of prioritising Europe. This scenario would test Villa’s depth and Emery’s ability to balance priorities, especially considering the club’s ambitions in both competitions.
Key Dates:
- Thursday, February 6: Carabao Cup semi-final – Liverpool vs Spurs
- Sunday, February 9: FA Cup 4th Round vs. Spurs
- Tuesday, February 11: Potential Champions League play-off first leg
- Tuesday, February 18: Potential Champions League play-off second leg
With Villa’s hopes of progressing deep in the Champions League, Emery may have no choice but to have one eye on European commitments. However, Villa fans will be desperate for a strong run in the FA Cup, a competition they have been poor in during recent years and that Villa haven’t won since 1957.
An Advantage Over Spurs?
That said, Villa could benefit from a slight edge over their opponents. Tottenham will play the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool just three days earlier on Thursday, February 6. The fixture congestion isn’t ideal for Spurs, potentially forcing them to rest key players for the FA Cup tie at Villa Park.
With Spurs 1-0 up from the first leg of their semi-final, it’ll certainly be their priority of the two domestic cups at the moment.
If Villa do make the top eight of the Champions League table at the end of this month, this scenario would allow Villa to field a stronger side in the FA Cup, and to go up against a team that would be fatigued from what should be a tight battle at Anfield to get to Wembley.
Final Thoughts
Villa’s upcoming Champions League games against both Monaco and Celtic are already crucial, as finishing in the top eight secures the club €10 million – regardless of what happens next. In contrast, getting knocked out in the play-offs only earns €1 million. Additionally, a top-eight finish provides Emery with an extra month to prepare for the business end of the tournament.
To have a clear crack at Spurs in the FA Cup without the concern of a Champions League play-off game would be a big bonus, in terms of keeping Villa game on all fronts.
If they don’t make it, then suddenly the FA Cup fourth-round date could end up as a bit of a spanner in the works to Villa’s season.
UTV
Follow MOMS on Twitter/X & Facebook & Threads & Bluesky
