Aston Villa vs Man City
Manchester City will be looking to rebuild their title hopes when they travel to Villa Park to face Aston Villa at 12:30pm on Saturday 21st December. Pep Guardiola’s side are eight points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool having played a game more. Aston Villa are sixth, just two points behind Man City. This game will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1.
Over 1.5 Aston Villa goals (6/5 with BetMGM)
Man City have conceded two goals in each of their past four away league games and Aston Villa will feel they can replicate the kind of performance that saw them take three points from the Citizens at Villa Park last season given how poor City’s form has been of late. The Blues have conceded two or more in 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions.
Ollie Watkins to score anytime (9/5 with BetMGM)
Ollie Watkins has scored five goals in eight home league games so far this season, including each of his past two league starts at Villa Park. With City struggling so much defensively at the moment, the in-form forward will hope to keep his place in the starting line-up despite pressure from Jhon Duran for a start.
Aston Villa vs Man City
How both teams go into Aston Villa vs Man City
Man City are already being ruled out of the Premier League title race. The defending champions went on a four-game losing streak in the league, dropping them down to fourth. Even when they ended that run with a win over Nottingham Forest, Man City couldn’t string together consecutive victories. Pep Guardiola’s side are winless in their past four away league games, drawing against Crystal Palace last time out, and, of course, they lost the Manchester derby last time out.
Aston Villa will be looking to make that run worse. The Villans are unbeaten in their past seven home league matches after opening the season with defeat at Villa Park. Aston Villa have also recently seen a losing run come to an end, but they stopped it with back-to-back wins. Victories over Brentford and Southampton have seen Aston Villa shoot back up to sixth, just two points outside the top four.
Aston Villa team news
Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey look set to be Aston Villa’s only absentees for this game.
Man City team news
Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake join Rodri on the sidelines for this game. But Mateo Kovacic could be in line to return. Rico Lewis will be available after suspension.
Aston Villa vs Man City head-to-head
Aston Villa have won just one of their past 17 games against Man City, and that did come at Villa Park last season. They haven’t won back-to-back home league games against Man City since 1993.
| Aston Villa vs Man City H2H | |||||||
| Date | Score | Ground | |||||
| 03/04/24 | Man City 4-1 Aston Villa | Etihad Stadium, Manchester | |||||
| 06/12/23 | Aston Villa 1-0 Man City | Villa Park, Birmingham | |||||
| 12/02/23 | Man City 3-1 Aston Villa | Etihad Stadium, Manchester | |||||
| 03/09/22 | Aston Villa 1-1 Man City | Villa Park, Birmingham | |||||
| 22/05/22 | Man City 3-2 Aston Villa | Etihad Stadium, Manchester | |||||