• Basel have lost just one of their last five games in all competitions

• Aston Villa have won four of their five Europa League matches

• Recommended bet: Aston Villa win and under 3.5 goals

Aston Villa travel to Switzerland to take on Basel on Thursday night and can take a giant step towards the Europa League knockout stages.

Unai Emery's men have won four of their five games in the tournament and sit third in the standings.

Basel, meanwhile, have won two from two at home, but are 24th in the standings, having lost all three matches on the road.

The latest Basel vs Aston Villa odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Team news

Basel head into this Europa League clash with a clean bill of health and a full squad to choose from.

Villa are not so fortunate, with forward Evan Guessand a doubt after picking up a knock and injured duo Ross Barkley and Tyrone Mings sidelined until January.

The stats

Basel have won three of their last seven games across all competitions, losing 2-1 against Genk in Belgium in the most recent Europa League encounter.

Villa have the joint-second best defence in the Europa League, having conceded just three goals in their opening five matches.

Basel and Villa last met in the Intertoto Cup back in August 2001 and, after a 1-1 draw in Switzerland, the Villans won 4-1 back at Villa Park on the way to winning one of the tournament's three finals.

Villa have won seven straight games across all competitions, recording 13 victories in their last 15 matches.

Former Stoke and Liverpool playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri has scored three goals in five Europa League games for Basel.

The latest Basel vs Aston Villa odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Villa's confidence was already high with six straight wins before Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Emery's side now head to Switzerland third place in the English top-flight and the Europa League standings after triumphing in four of their five matches against teams on the continent.

Heading to Basel will not be a walk in the park, with the Swiss side having won, both home games in the Europa League but Villa should boast enough quality and momentum to earn another three points.

Basel are currently 24th in the Europa League standings and so will need to pick up points against Villa, RB Salzburg or Viktoria Plzen in order to progress to the play-off round.

While the Premier League side are the favourites, it is unlikely to be a goalfest at St Jakob-Park and so it may be worth backing under 3.5 goals in the game.

Each of Villa's five Europa League games have featured three goals or fewer, while only one Basel match has seen more than three goals.

Back Aston Villa to win and under 3.5 goals at 1.55/1 with LiveScore Bet