Manchester City make the challenging trip to Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League as they desperately seek to end their three-game winless streak.
Last weekend is late and embarrassing defeat to local rivals Manchester United it means the reigning champions have won just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions, losing eight of them. Not only are Pep Guardiola's side quickly falling out of contention to defend their crown, but they will face an uphill battle to secure the top four if they fail to deliver on their ideas.
Villa are ready to take advantage of Man City's poor form and low confidence, knowing that a win on Saturday lunchtime will see them overcome their opponents. The Midlands side have not been entirely convincing in recent weeks, however, and, like Man City, they conceded two goals late last week in a 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Here it is 90 minutes guide to Aston Villa vs. Man City.
Aston Villa vs Man City H2H record (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Aston Villa |
Man City |
|---|---|
|
Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa – 14/12/24 |
Man City 1-2 Man Utd – 15/12/24 |
|
RB Leipzig 2-3 Aston Villa – 10/12/24 |
Juventus 2-0 Man City – 11/12/24 |
|
Aston Villa 1-0 Southampton – 07/12/24 |
Crystal Palace 2-2 Man City – 07/12/24 |
|
Aston Villa 3-1 Brentford – 04/12/24 |
Man City 3-0 Nottingham Forest – 04/12/24 |
|
Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa – 01/12/24 |
Liverpool 2-0 Man City – 01/12/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discover+, discover+ app |
|
United States |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada |
Aston Villa are certainly not flooded Lendo for the visit of Man City and are only without two of their regular first team players. Both are missing in the final third, with Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey unavailable with hamstring problems.
Unai Emery could make a change or two from the side that were beaten by Forest last time out, with Ollie Watkins likely to return to the XI in place of super sub Jhon Duran – even if the Colombian scores at the City Ground.
Matty Cash could continue his role as an auxiliary right midfielder on Saturday, helping to provide defensive support for Ezri Konsa behind him.
Aston Villa predicted formation against Man City (4-4-1-1): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Cash, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers; Watkins.
Guardiola can no longer blame a wide injury list about his team's struggles on the field, though they are now without Ruben Dias, after he picked up a muscle problem in the Manchester derby. Nathan Ake is still nursing a hamstring problem, but Manuel Akanji is back in training and could feature.
Oscar Bobb and Rodri are long-term absentees, but Man City have a full squad.
Mateo Kovacic made his first appearance in a month in the loss to Man Utd as a substitute in the second half. The Croatian should break into the starting line-up for Man City, who also welcome back Rico Lewis from suspension.
John Stones could be out for the first time since late November with Dias out.
Man City predicted formation against Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Guardiol, Lewis; Gundogan, Kovacic; Silva, De Bruyne, Doc; Haaland.
Will Villa inflict even more misery on Man City? Well, it seems likely given the current form of Saturday's visitors, who look a shadow of their former selves. They are misfiring down the line and making too many mistakes at the other end, with Villa looking to capitalize.
The Midlands side won this fixture last season in early December and have the personnel capable of overcoming a formidable Man City side. The Villa Park crowd will be loud and the home team's intensity could prove the difference.