Less than four months ago, Unai Emery’s team secured an impressive 1-0 victory over the current Premier League champions.
On Wednesday evening, Aston Villa will aim to match that performance when they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
As it stands, third-placed Man City lead fourth-placed Villa by five points. Let’s delve into the key stats, trends, analysis, and predictions for Wednesday’s match.
Match Preview
Manchester City played to a goalless draw with title rivals Arsenal on Sunday, despite having 73% possession and taking 12 shots at home.
Therefore, Pep Guardiola’s team is one point behind the Gunners and three points behind Liverpool in the title race.
It’s important to note that Man City have not lost in their last 23 matches across all competitions, with just one loss in their last 33.
Additionally, Guardiola’s men remain undefeated at the Etihad this season, with 10 wins and five draws in 15 Premier League home games.
Aston Villa secured a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Moussa Diaby and Ezri Konsa scoring in the West Midlands derby.
This result extends Villa’s unbeaten run to three games, with only one loss in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Also, Emery’s team hasn’t lost in their last five away league games, with three wins and two draws.
Considering they’ve lost only one of their last nine away Premier League matches, Villa will feel confident about their chances at the Etihad.
Head-to-head:
Despite Aston Villa winning the previous encounter, Manchester City has won 11 of the last 14 Premier League meetings between them.
Given that nine of the last 14 league matches have seen over 2.5 goals, Wednesday’s game will likely be high-scoring.
Team news:
The hosts are missing defender Kyle Walker due to injury, but goalkeeper Ederson might return in midweek.
On the other hand, Villa has several injuries including Boubacar Kamara, Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings, and Matty Cash, with Ollie Watkins and Jacob Ramsey uncertain.
Prediction:
While Aston Villa dominated the previous match, replicating that performance at the Etihad will be challenging.
We predict that both teams will score on Wednesday, but the hosts will outscore the visitors this time.
