The reason behind the unusual kick-off time of the Aston Villa vs. Tottenham clash.
Tottenham Hotspur’s crucial Premier League clash at Aston Villa will kick off at the unusual time of 7pm on Sunday evening, with the fixture having been moved from its original Saturday lunchtime slot due to Villa’s progression in the UEFA Europa League, as reported by talkSPORT.
The reason for the scheduling change traces back to a contingency built into the original fixture announcement. When Tottenham confirmed in March that the Villa Park visit would take place at 12:30 pm on Saturday, May 2, and be broadcast live on TNT Sports, the club’s statement included a specific caveat. The match would move to 7 pm on Sunday, May 3, should Aston Villa reach the Europa League semi-finals. Unai Emery’s side subsequently demolished Bologna 7-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals to set up a meeting with Nottingham Forest in the last four, triggering the clause and forcing the fixture to move.
Villa’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Forest takes place this Thursday, meaning the original Saturday lunchtime kick-off would have provided an impossibly short turnaround for the hosts. The Sunday evening slot, broadcast live on talkSPORT with commentary from Sam Matterface and ex-Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam, provides the necessary breathing space while keeping the fixture within the same gameweek.
West Ham will play before Tottenham
For Tottenham, the later kick-off means they will know exactly how West Ham have fared before a ball is kicked at Villa Park. Brentford host West Ham on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm, meaning De Zerbi’s side will have a clear picture of the gap between themselves and their rivals before their own match begins. That information could prove psychologically significant in terms of what kind of result Spurs need to pursue.
The broader context of the fixture needs no elaboration. Tottenham sit two points below West Ham with four games remaining, facing a Champions League-chasing Villa side that is simultaneously navigating a deep European run under one of the Premier League’s most tactically astute managers. De Zerbi’s squad, decimated by injuries and without Simons, Solanke, Kudus, Romero, and numerous others, face one of the most demanding possible opponents at the most critical moment of their season.
Sunday evening at Villa Park. Everything on the line. Seven o’clock kick-off. Tottenham cannot afford anything less than their maximum effort.