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Man City vs Aston Villa Preview: Team News & Prediction

by Alex Lawes · April 21 2025, 15:55
Updated April 22 2025, 00:04
Man City vs Aston Villa Preview: Team News & Prediction

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This is a crucial and potentially fascinating encounter in the battle for a top five spot and the UEFA Champions League places as Manchester City face Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.

Kick-off date/time: Tuesday 22nd April, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – USA Network

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Universo

Man City Preview: Cityzens’ improvement

Manchester City continued their mini improvement at the weekend as they defeated a stubborn and difficult to beat Everton side by two goals to nil at Goodison Park thanks to late strikes from Mateo Kovacic and Nico O’Reilly.

The Cityzens had come from 2-0 down to hammer Crystal Palace by five goals to two at the Etihad Stadium the week before. Pep Guardiola’s side are now unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions ahead of next weekend’s FA Cup semi-final.

Aston Villa Preview: Villains’ big victory

Aston Villa come into this one on the back of a extremely impressive performance as they hammered Newcastle United by four goals to one at Villa Park thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins, Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana as well as a Dan Burn own goal.

That victory for the Villains means that Unai Emery’s side have now managed to win ten of their last 11 matches across all competitions with the only game they didn’t win being their crucial UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Paris Saint-Germain in Paris.

Man City Team News: Still no Ederson

It has been confirmed that Pep Guardiola will remain without first-choice goalkeeper Ederson for the next few games and Stefan Ortega will keep his place in goal. They remain without the likes of other key players, too,  such as Nathan Ake, John Stones, Rodri and Erling Haaland.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Gonzalez, Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Savio; Marmoush

Unavailable: Ederson (Injured), Ake (Injured), Stones (Injured), Rodri (Fitness), Haaland (Injured)

Questionable: 

Aston Villa Team News: Fully fit

Ollie Watkins has said that he made it clear to Unai Emery that he was frustrated to have been left out of the Villains' starting eleven for their clash against Paris Saint-Germain last week and he is expected to keep his place for this week. There are no apparent fresh injury concerns for the visitors here.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn; Watkins

Unavailable: 

Questionable: 

Man City vs Aston Villa Prediction

Manchester City begin the 34th match day of the 2024/25 campaign sitting tucked inside the top five and the UEFA Champions League spots. They have remained susceptible to teams on the counter-attack, despite their aforementioned improved run of form. They now face an Aston Villa side that themselves have one of the best records in European football in the last couple of months so this has the potential to be a really entertaining encounter in Manchester this midweek.

Man City vs Aston Villa Tip: Over 2.5 goals

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