The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mayhem with the lives of worldwide. Not only has it sadly brought fatalities around the globe it also brought the beautiful game to a virtual standstill. However, the Bundesliga in Germany and Spanish La Liga are back.
This week the English Premier League will return to action, with nine gameweeks of the season remaining for most of the teams in the English top-flight. Strangely the break may have come at a good time for some teams. While nobody would have wished for such a terrible virus to hit worldwide, the break may give teams a chance to re-evaluate their situations.
One team that could benefit from the break is Aston Villa. Along with fellow promoted side Norwich, the Villans are in the Premier League relegation zone.
The team from the Midlands are two points from safety with a game in -hand on their rivals.
That extra game will be the first English top-flight game to be played, as Dean Smith’s team face Sheffield United at Villa Park on Wednesday evening. The Blades are chasing a European spot, so will not be easy opponents.
Before the break Villa were in hopeless league form, as they had suffered four consecutive top-flight defeats.
They also picked up the mantle as the team with the worse defence in the Premier League, as no team top-flight has conceded more than the Villans this season.
The fact that those four defeats are now a distant memory could work in Villa’s favour for the rest of the season. The Villa coaching staff may have had some fresh ideas and be able to help their team turn the corner.
There is still plenty of time for Villa to recover from their poor pre-COVID form. However, they just must take the opportunity that the enforced break has provided to turn their fortunes around.