Aston Villa are looking to respond to an embarrassing defeat in Europe in midweek when they host a Manchester City side who are re-emerging as a Premier League title contender.
Match News and Current Form
Villa’s five-match winning streak across all competitions was unceremoniously ended on Thursday, when they were stunningly beaten 2-1 by Dutch minnows Go Ahead Eagles in the UEFA Europa League. That result will hardly have endeared some of the squad’s fringe players to manager Unai Emery, who is tasked with shaking off that defeat to continue rebuilding their league campaign. A win here would make Villa the first side since Preston in 1936/37 to go winless in their first five top-flight games and win the following four, and as they’ve been beaten just once at Villa Park since October 2024 (W18, D7), they look to have every chance.
In-form visitors Manchester City will make that a tall order as they’ve won three successive matches without conceding a single goal, forming part of a wider nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions (W7, D2). Pep Guardiola’s side have accrued more Premier League points than any other side since the start of April (39), and sit three points shy of leaders Arsenal as they look to reclaim the title. Recent form on the road certainly suggests they’ll be hard to beat here, as City have lost just one of their last 12 away matches (W7, D4), with six of those victories accompanied by a clean sheet.
Head-to-Head History
City have only beaten Newcastle (32) more than Villa (31) in the Premier League, but have struggled at Villa Park recently, losing their last two league visits, their most since a run of five over 50 years ago.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Villa have conceded from a corner in three successive league matches.
Villa have won the last two league games they conceded the opening goal in.
City have opened the scoring in each of their last ten matches.
City have scored five unanswered goals in the first half of their away league games this season.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Emi Buendía missed from the penalty spot in midweek, but has been involved in a pre-round league-high three goals as a substitute this season (G2, A1), and is looking to score in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time ever. The unstoppable Erling Haaland has scored in 12 consecutive matches for club and country (G22), as well as in five away league games in a row for City, but has only netted once across four H2Hs (W1, D1, L2).
Villa are missing Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans, while City are without Rodri.
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Betting Analysis
Given recent form, backing City to win and Haaland to score first could turn a healthy profit.
Author: Ryan Fisher