The Citizens are chasing a record. Aston Villa vs Manchester City prediction
Aston Villa and Manchester City will meet on Saturday, October 24, in the eighth round of the English Premier League. The match will be played at Villa Park in Birmingham, with kick-off scheduled for 13:30 CET. I am backing the winner of this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- Aston Villa have won three matches in a row in all competitions.
- Manchester City have conceded in three consecutive games.
- The Birmingham side are unbeaten in their last seven matches.
- At least three goals have been scored in each of Manchester City's last six matches.
- Emery has beaten Maresca twice in their three head-to-head meetings.
- Aston Villa have won two matches in a row against Manchester City, including three straight victories at home.
- Manchester City have been unable to beat Aston Villa in Birmingham for five years.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa's start to the Premier League season has been far from straightforward. Unai Emery's side have alternated strong performances with dropped points and have yet to show the consistency required to challenge near the top of the table. Across seven rounds, the Birmingham outfit have recorded two wins, two draws and three defeats.
In the previous league round, Aston Villa secured an important 1-0 away win over Newcastle. That result should give the players confidence ahead of a meeting with one of England's strongest clubs. Before that, the Birmingham side drew 2-2 with Brentford and also managed a 3-2 away victory over Tottenham. However, the 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest served as a reminder that the team can still struggle even in matches where they are targeting a positive result.
Aston Villa have also shown serious attacking potential on the European stage. Victories over Fenerbahce, Viking and Brugge have put them among the leaders in the Champions League, while 12 goals scored underline their attacking efficiency.
Against the Citizens, Aston Villa's main task will be to prevent their opponents from taking control of the initiative for long spells. Emery's team are capable of transitioning quickly from defence to attack, exploiting space and creating danger after winning the ball back. With the home crowd behind them, the hosts will surely look to play on the front foot, but such an approach against Manchester City carries risks: any turnover in a dangerous area can lead to a swift counterattack.
Manchester City
Manchester City have made an almost perfect start to the season. The team have won all seven of their opening Premier League matches and collected 21 points. They have also scored 19 goals, demonstrating outstanding attacking efficiency. Those convincing results have allowed Enzo Maresca's side to establish themselves at the top of the table and approach the away meeting with Aston Villa as favourites.
Manchester City have maintained their winning run in recent league rounds. They thrashed Liverpool 3-0 away from home before beating Ipswich 3-2 at the Etihad. The match against Ipswich showed that even with a clear advantage in quality, the Manchester side cannot always avoid defensive problems.
Particular attention ahead of the meeting with Aston Villa is focused on a potential historic achievement for Manchester City. Seven wins from seven opening rounds already represent the best start to a Premier League season in the club's history. Now Maresca's side can claim an eighth consecutive victory and match Liverpool's achievement of winning their first eight Premier League matches in the 2019/20 season. The only team above them on this list is Chelsea, who won their first nine matches in 2005/06.
Manchester City have also displayed their attacking power in the Champions League, although their European campaign has not been without setbacks. After a 4-2 defeat to PSG, the English side responded with a convincing 5-1 home victory over AEK. That result should help the team rebuild confidence after the disappointing evening against the French club.
Probable lineups
- Aston Villa: Suzuki, Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Maatsen, Kamara, Gomes, Buendia, Alisson, Mbaye, Jackson.
- Manchester City: Donnarumma, Gvardiol, Guehi, Dias, Khusanov, Buaddi, Fernandes, Ndiaye, Foden, Doku, Haaland.
What to bet on?
Manchester City come into this meeting in more convincing form: seven wins from seven Premier League rounds speak for themselves. Aston Villa have also received a positive boost after beating Newcastle and will look to make the most of home advantage. The Birmingham side can cause problems for the favourites, especially if they can counterattack effectively and prevent the visitors from fully controlling the tempo. However, Manchester City retain the edge in terms of consistency and attacking quality, so I am backing them to win.
