Fulham Under-18s will face Aston Villa for the third time this season when Ali Melloul’s side travel to Bodymoor Heath on Saturday, 12pm kick-off.
Previous meetings
It’s Villa who have had the edge in our meetings so far, with Jimmy Shan’s side beating our Young Whites as recently as last month with a 2-0 win at Motspur Park.
Our first meeting was back in November in the Premier League Cup, with Ali Melloul’s side knowing that just a point was required to secure our spot in the Quarter-Finals of the competition, while Villa needed a win to book their place in the last eight.
Game management was at the top of our priorities once Macaulay Zepa had given us an early lead in the Midlands, and while Elijah Briscoe did equalise before the break, our youngsters were relatively untroubled throughout the second period and claimed the draw that was required.
The opposition
It could be a season to remember for Villa’s youngsters, who have booked their place in the FA Youth Cup Final and remain firmly in the title race in the U18s Premier League South, despite currently being fifth in the division.
That impressive Youth Cup run has resulted in a backlog of league fixtures, with Villa playing the least games in the division, with five games in hand on current table-toppers Southampton.
Even though there are four teams above them, Villa’s points per game average [1.87] is the best in the division. Recent league form has been patchy, though, with their victory at Motspur Park in March their only triumph in 2025.
Shan’s side come into this clash off the back of a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup Semi-Finals at Villa Park. Goalkeeper Sam Proctor was the hero, saving two spot kicks to send Villa into the Final where they will face either Manchester City or Watford.
The journey to the Final hasn’t been short on drama, with a stoppage-time winner required to beat Bristol City in the Fifth Round, although victories over Accrington Stanley, Newcastle United and Plymouth Argyle were far more routine, with a combined scoreline of 13-0 across those three ties.
Coverage
@FulhamAcademy on X is the best place to keep up-to-date with the action from Bodymoor Heath, with reaction and highlights to follow on our website.
