Aston Villa vs Man City preview: Team news, lineups, prediction
Aston Villa are back in Premier League action as they play Man City at Villa Park on Sunday.
Aston Villa’s 2-1 loss to Go Ahead Eagles has stunted what was a five-game winning streak in all competitions, and they now must prepare for a mouth-watering clash at Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side currently sit 11th in the Premier League table, whilst Man City are currently second, just three points off league leaders Arsenal.
The key task for Aston Villa will be to stop Erling Haaland’s red-hot form, and Villa News highlights everything you need to know ahead of the match.
Preview
It’s been three years since Emery was appointed as the Aston Villa manager, and few could have predicted how successful his reign has been.
After getting his side to the Champions League quarter-finals last year, Emery is looking to build even more confidence at Villa Park after a run of three successive league wins.
Aston Villa failed to score in their opening four matches, yet wins against Fulham, Burnley, and Tottenham have given fans the confidence that they can be involved in competing for European places once more.
As for Man City, they had a rough start to the season, losing to Spurs and Brighton, yet they have been near faultless ever since.
The visitors are unbeaten in all competitions, and they come into the match off the back of a 2-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Form guide
Aston Villa (last six all comps): W W W W W L
Man City (last six all comps): W W D W W W
Head-to-head
In the last 20 meetings between the two sides, Villa have won only three of these matches.
The good news for them is that two of these victories have both come in Man City’s most recent visits to Villa Park.
Having scored against Pep Guardiola’s side in the past nine meetings, Sunday’s contest could see Aston Villa cause problems against the City defence.
Aston Villa haven’t won three successive home matches against Man City since 1928, and there is huge belief amongst supporters that perhaps their team could break this long-standing record.
Team news and predicted lineups
Emery will look to make several changes from the disappointing defeat in the Netherlands.
Lucas Digne was unavailable against Go Ahead Eagles after sustaining an ankle injury against Tottenham.
He looks set to return to the starting lineup, whilst Morgan Rogers, Boubacar Kamara, and John McGinn are likely to be called back into action.
Villa face no fresh injury concerns, with Youri Tielemans still out due to a calf injury, and Andres Garcia a long way away from full fitness.
As for Man City, Nico Gonzalez was taken off against Villarreal due to knock he sustained, with his condition being closely monitored.
Abdukodir Khusanov is nursing an ankle problem, whilst Guardiola confirmed that 2024 Ballon D’or winner Rodri also remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Aston Villa predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne: Kamara, Onana: Guessand, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
Man City predicted XI: Donnarumma; O’Reilly, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Reijnders, Silva; Foden, Marmoush, Haaland
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Man City
Unfortunately for Villa, they are simply coming up against a man who is continuing to break every record in his path.
If Haaland finds the back of the net against Aston Villa, he will have scored in six successive Premier League away games, and based on current evidence, it’s hard to believe he won’t.
From Emery’s perspective, Rogers looked back to his best against Tottenham, whilst Watkins will be aiming to to kickstart his goalscoring form this season.
The match will undeniably be a close one, yet Man City just hold the edge at this moment in time.
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