Aston Villa looking to end 20-year streak in West Midlands derby with Wolverhampton Wanderers

Aston Villa will be hoping to end a 20-year streak when they square off against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.

Unai Emery has been left delighted with Villa's start to the new season, collecting nine points from their opening four games in the Premier League.

Furthermore, they kicked off their first-ever Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening with a 3-0 victory at Swiss side Young Boys.

That has started a hectic schedule for Villa, who must now play five more matches in the space of two weeks before the next international break.

While they are not necessarily entering new territory given last season's exhausting Europa Conference League campaign, it remains to be seen whether opting for less rotation in higher-profile matches will take its toll.

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What streak are Villa looking to end?

Having made no changes for the last two fixtures on Saturday and Tuesday, Emery may consider tinkering with his side for the first West Midlands derby of the season.

Despite the clubs being on contrasting trajectories of late, Villa have failed to record back-to-back victories over Wolves in the Premier League for 20 years.

That was Wolves' first-ever top-flight campaign under the Premier League banner, going down 3-2 at Villa Park and succumbing 4-0 at Molineux.

In last season's corresponding encounter, Villa prevailed by a 2-0 scoreline, Moussa Diaby and Ezri Konsa getting on the scoresheet in either half.

Prior to that triumph, however, Wolves had been on a six-game undefeated streak against Villa, posting three wins and three draws.

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Wolves on dismal run

Villa may have conceded 26 goals in their last 12 home matches in the Premier League but they are facing the division's most out-of-form team, Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes condemning them to their latest defeat.

Since the beginning of March, Wolves have lost 11 times in the top flight, while they are also on a seven-game winless streak.

Their solitary victory in 14 outings is a 2-1 success over Luton Town, and a start of one point from a possible 12 is their worst in the Premier League since 2003-04.

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