Manchester City FC vs Aston Villa FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Manchester City FC vs Aston Villa FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Manchester City would usually bounce back from a defeat by turning on the style against their next opponent, picking up a win and starting another long winning run.

That doesn’t seem to be the case with this City team. Pep Guardiola’s men don’t look quite right at the moment and that’s before you start talking about the financial charges that have been brought against them this week.

The legal case against City will continue in the background but their relative struggles on the pitch will need addressing if they are to catch Arsenal at the top.

Aston Villa have the look of a much-improved team under Unai Emery. They score more goals, defend better and look more organised than they did under Steven Gerrard.

However, their excellent run of form came crashing down with a poor 4-2 home defeat to Leicester recently. A win in that game would have taken them above Liverpool and Chelsea into 9th. 

This game starts a tough run of fixtures for the club, with City followed by Arsenal and then Everton.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Manchester City FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Have won their last 12 at home against Villa

     Phil Foden is back in contention after recovering from illness

Reasons to be fearful:

     City have lost three of their last six games

     Could lose consecutive games for the first time since 2018

When Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has suffered a blip in the past, they have usually bounced back straight away.

Recently, they haven’t been able to do that. City have suffered as many defeats in their last six games – three – as they did in their previous 27 matches.

The talk of Joao Cancelo’s departure, Kevin De Bruyne being on the bench and Phil Foden’s continued absence from the team has not helped the image of this team. 

Like most opponents, Aston Villa have a poor record against City – losing 12 in a row against the Etihad. You feel that this is an idea game for City to play in order to hit themselves back into form.

Star Man – Erling Haaland

This week, the talk has been about whether Haaland has improved City or not this season. His 25 league goals this season have earned City 18 points, which suggests their problems may lie elsewhere.

Aston Villa FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Could win their fourth consecutive away game

     Only Manchester United and Arsenal have picked up more points since Emery’s appointment

Reasons to be fearful

     However, Emery has never beaten Guardiola as a manager in 12 attempts

     Probably a bad time to play City

While Aston Villa have been enjoying life under their new manager, they could be in for a reality check over the next couple of games.

After Manchester City, they face league leaders Arsenal. However, this game poses perhaps the greater threat due to City’s ability, historically at least, to bounce back from defeat.

Villa have been excellent away recently, winning their last three, but to come to the Etihad is the ultimate test for most teams. 

Emery’s teams are usually hard to beat, although they must be a lot tighter at the back than they were against Leicester last weekend.

Star Man – Ollie Watkins

Watkins has probably benefitted most from Emery’s appointment and could score in his third consecutive away appearance for the first time.