Aston Villa FC vs Manchester City FC, English Premier League 2024-25, Today Match Prediction

Aston Villa FC vs Manchester City FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Aston Villa will be eager to make amends this weekend after a crushing late collapse against Nottingham Forest, conceding twice in the final ten minutes. Meanwhile, their opponents for the weekend clash, Manchester City, are in unfamiliar territory, with just one win in their last ten matches—a dismal run that includes two draws and eight defeats. Both sides have a point to prove as they square off at Villa Park on Saturday at 6 p.m. IST

Over the years, Manchester City have reigned supreme in this rivalry, but Villa Park has proven to be a challenging ground for the reigning champions. Aston Villa have managed to win one and draw the other in their last two encounters with City at home. With an unbeaten home record this season and City struggling away—losing three of their last five—Villa will feel confident about their chances. The defending champions, on the other hand, are battling with form and confidence, making this clash a potential upset.

Current Standings: With 25 points (7 wins, 4 draws & 5 losses), Aston Villa is currently placed 7th in the league standings, while Manchester City is placed fifth  with 23 points (8 wins, 3 draws, and 5 defeats). 

Head-to-Head Record: In 48 matches that have been played between the teams, City has dominated the rivalry with a 30-8 win record.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Aston Villa FC Preview

Aston Villa will be eager to bounce back from their recent setback as they host Manchester City, eyeing a golden opportunity to capitalise on the reigning champions' struggles. Unai Emery’s side has been formidable at home this season, suffering just one defeat and currently riding a four-game unbeaten streak at home, including consecutive wins over Southampton (1-0) and Brentford (3-1). With a victory on Saturday, the Villans could leapfrog City into fifth place, continuing their climb up the table and adding much-needed spark to their campaign.  

Unai Emery could take inspiration from Ruben Amorim’s tactical approach when Aston Villa faces Manchester City this Saturday. In United's recent triumph over City, swift switches of play—predominantly from left to right—proved decisive. The duo of Amad and Mazraoui fully exploited City’s fragile left flank, creating relentless pressure and unlocking spaces in the final third, which led to goals in the second half. For Emery, targeting City’s vulnerable left side with similar precision could be the key to breaking their defensive line and seizing control of the game.

Stats That Matter

Aston Villa has shown a knack for late-game heroics, scoring a remarkable 25% of their goals in the final 15 minutes of matches. At home this season, they boast a solid record of 4 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss, demonstrating their strength on their own turf. Leading the scoring charts for the Villans is Ollie Watkins with 7 goals, while Youri Tielemans has been instrumental in creating scoring opportunities, providing a team-high 4 assists. Furthermore, Villa's dominance at home is evident in their impressive win rate of 76% when they manage to take an early 1-0 lead. 

Team News  - Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey are likely absentees for Saturday’s clash against City. 

Aston Villa Probable XI - Martinez (Goalkeeper); Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Carlos, Tielemans, Onana, McGinn, Rogers, Duran 

Manchester City FC Preview

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City is navigating uncharted waters, with eight losses in 11 games across all competitions and five in their last six Premier League matches. Interestingly, City had only 3 games last season. Meanwhile, their recent stumble came in the Manchester derby, where they struck first but fell 2-1 to a spirited rival comeback. Once dominant, City now sits fifth, nine points behind Liverpool, as their fifth Premier League title slips further from view. 

City’s struggles this season are often pinned on Rodri's absence, but deeper issues lie beneath. An aging squad and misfiring midfielders have compounded their woes, with center-back Gvardiol, on four goals, emerging as their second-highest scorer, and John Stones with just two shots, their fourth highest goal scorer this season. And from what we have seen, Guardiola has no solutions to their compounding problems. 

Stats That Matter

Manchester City, despite their impressive league position, have conceded a league-high 23 goals amongst the top five teams in the Premier League. This defensive vulnerability presents a slight concern for a team known for its defensive solidity. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland continues to be a prolific scorer, leading the team in goals with an impressive tally of 13 goals this season.

Team News - John Stones looks poised for action, while Mateo Kovacic is set to feature from the start after a solid second-half cameo against Manchester United.

Manchester City Probable XI - Ederson(GK); Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku, Haaland

ASTON VILLA FC vs MANCHESTER CITY FC
Winning Prediction

Despite their recent run of poor form, most betting sites favor Manchester City to win over Villa. Manchester City are favorites to win the match, with odds of 2.10 against Villa’s 3.25 and odds of 3.75 for a draw. Meanwhile, an xG of 3 can be expected for this match.

It's tricky to decide whether to back City based on their head-to-head record or back Villa based on their home record this season. In such situations, the best option might be to back the teams to play out a draw. 

We predict a Draw (1-1)

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