Our prediction for this FA Cup match:
Following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Leicester City, Aston Villa will look to give fans yet another reason to celebrate when they take on West Ham United in the FA Cup last 64. The Villans are a real force to be reckoned with at home, but they will have to showcase their worth on the field. Important midfielder John McGinn limped off with injury in the last Premier League game, with Jacob Ramsey likely to sneak into the starting XI. Defender Diego Carlos is unlikely to be risked.
The Hammers, on the other hand, failed to spoil Man City’s party at Etihad Stadium and given their recent defensive struggles, we believe that there is a big value in betting on Unai Emery’s troops. West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo has overcome his minor injury, but both Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio remain in the recovery room.
Highlighted Player (Diego Carlos):
Diego Carlos Santos Silva is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Nantes as a defender. His main position is centre-back and his preferred foot is right. Diego Carlos began his youth career at America-SP and in 2010 he moved to Desportivo Brasil. After spending the 2012/2013 season on loan at Sao Paulo, the 185-cm-tall defender returned to Desportivo Brasil.
However, he made his first-team debut with Madureira during his spell with the club (2014). In 2014 Diego Carlos signed a contract with Portuguese club Estoril Praia and he scored two goals in 39 appearances for the Primeira Liga club. It has to be noted, though, that he played for Porto B (on loan) in the 2014/2015 season.
Diego Carlos moved to French club Nantes in the summer of 2016 and you should bear in mind that he quickly established himself as a first-team regular with les Canaris. The Brazilian footballer scored two goals in 34 appearances for Nantes in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 campaign. His contract with the Ligue 1 side expires on June 20, 2021.
Highlighted Team (West Ham):
West Ham United are an English football club based in East London. The club was founded in 1895 and it has to be noted that the club’s name was Thames Ironworks back then. The Hammers were playing their home games at Upton Park from 1904 until 2016, when they moved to the Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
West Ham have won three FA Cup trophies (1964, 1975 and 1980) and they were runners-up in 1923 and 2006. The capital club finished the 1985/1986 England first division campaign in third place in the standings and that is the club’s highest placing in the top flight. West Ham United have strong rivalries with fellow London clubs, but Tottenham Hotspur are considered the club’s main rivals.
A number of top-class players were part of West Ham in the past and the likes of Joe Cole, Carlos Tevez, Paolo Di Canio, Paul Ince, Julian Dicks, Shaka Hislop, Michael Carrick and Slaven Bilic are some of them.