Aston Villa vs Manchester Prediction: Betting Preview

Saturday’s early Premier League kick off comes from Villa Park and Matthew O’Regan has his Aston Villa vs Manchester City prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. Both teams were afforded a much-needed midweek break in the midst of a hectic winter period, so should come into this game refreshed after both losing 1-2 on the weekend. There are usually goals when these sides face off, and we are predicting a similar feat again.

Aston Villa vs Manchester City Best Bet: City Defensive Woes To Continue

England, Premier League, Saturday, December 21st, 12:30 (UK)

Aston Villa’s post-European woes continued as they capitulated in the game’s dying embers to lose 2-1 at high-flying Nottingham Forest. After their European endeavours, Unai Emery’s side have now taken just five points from six games. The Spaniard will be thrilled to have a midweek break as they prepare to take on four-time reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. The Villains currently sit sixth in the league, just four points off fourth place and know a win will take them above Saturday’s visitors. 

Manchester City’s woes continued on Sunday. Despite leading in the 88th minute, the Citizens still managed to lose 1-2 to same-city rivals Manchester United, with individual errors continuing to plague Pep Guardiola’s side. They have now just won once in 11 games, losing six of their last seven away games. 

Of Aston Villa’s 16 Premier League games, 11 have seen over 2.5 goals, including four of their last five. With 24 goals scored and 25 conceded, Villa games have been averaging 3.06 goals. 

For so long, we have become accustomed to Manchester City dominating the Premier League and sweeping sides aside easily. However, since their 2-1 EFL Cup loss to Tottenham on the 30th October, the Citizens have looked a shadow of themselves. Pep Guardiola’s side have only avoided defeat three times since then, beating Nottingham Forest 3-0, drawing 2-2 with Crystal Palace and drawing 3-3 with Feyenoord, despite being 3-0 up after 75 minutes. 

Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns about his side’s poor defensive performances, conceding  25 goals in their last 11 – as many as they’ve conceded in the previous 30. City also looks to be lacking physicality in their side, with their midfield in particular ageing and lacking the legs to cover the necessary ground. 

Villa will relish this match-up. Jhon Duran is a striker who feeds off physicality, and he will believe he will have the better of a slow City defence. In midfield, Emery’s ‘box midfield’ contains plenty of pace and power, such as Morgan Rogers, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana. 

Saturday’s early kick-off looks to be an absolute corker of a game, and we should see plenty of goals. Seven of City’s last 11 games have seen ‘both teams to score and over 2.5 goals’ land, with Guardiola’s side conceding at least two in all, bar the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. With Aston Villa at home, we should see goals at both ends. 

• Aston Villa vs Manchester City Prediction 1: BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

Aston Villa vs Manchester City Prediction odds via bet365 as at 00:00 December, 17th 2024. Odds may now differ.

Aston Villa vs Manchester City Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups Best Bet: City Stretched

In the dismal 1-2 derby day defeat to Manchester United, City named just four senior outfielders on the bench, with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, James McAtee, Nico O’Reilly and Divin Mubamba on the substitutes bench. The return of Rico Lewis from suspension boosts the numbers somewhat, but Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain absent. Ederson was restored to the starting line up on Sunday, but it will be interesting to see who Pep chooses between the sticks on Saturday. 

Aston Villa are slowly getting players back. Tyrone Mings was injured in the warm up against Forest, so Pau Torres stepped in. It is unsure whether he will be back or whether he will join on Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey on the injury list. 

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Mcginn, Rogers, Watkins; Duran

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; Nunes, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva, Doku; Haaland

Match OPTA Stats

• Aston Villa won this exact fixture 1-0 last season but haven’t won consecutive home league meetings with  Man City since April 1993. 
• Only against Newcastle have Manchester City won more Premier League games (31) and scored more  Premier League goals (102) than they have against Aston Villa (30 wins, 98 goals). 
• Although overall Aston Villa have lost four of their last seven Premier League games (W2 D1), they’re  unbeaten in each of their last seven at Villa Park (W4 D3). They’re looking to win three in a row at home for  the first time since a run of 15 between March and December 2023. 
• Manchester City have lost five of their last seven Premier League games (W1 D1), as many as they had in  their previous 67 combined (W51 D11). They last lost more in a single league campaign in 2020-21 (6). 
• Manchester City have lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions (W1 D2), as many as they had in  their previous 106 combined (W78 D20). They last lost more in a single campaign in 2019-20 (12). 

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