Predicted XI: Manchester City vs Aston Villa (Premier League) | OneFootball

After missing out on the title, Manchester City will play their final game of the Premier League against Europa League champions Aston Villa on Sunday evening.

Last time around, City drew 1-1 away at Bournemouth, ending their hopes of lifting the Premier League title. Eli Junior Kroupi opened the scoring for the hosts with a brilliant curled effort and Erling Haaland’s fierce shot levelled the match in added time.

With no pressure at all on the squad, the game against Villa can be a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to two Blues who became legends during their time at the club – Bernardo Silva and John Stones.

According to rumours in the media, this could be also the last game of the Pep Guardiola era – despite nothing being official yet and the Catalan manager himself doubling and tripling down he is under contract until 2027.

Earlier in the season, Unai Emery’s side outplayed Manchester City at Villa Park and won by 1-0, thanks to an early Matty Cash volley from a set-piece play. Now, both clubs face each other on the final day of the season.

The Blues have a full squad available for Sunday’s clash. As for the Villains, Emiliano Martinez, Boubacar Kamara and Alysson are sidelined with injuries.

This is our predicted XI for the last time in the 2025-26 season, quite possibly for the last time under Guardiola.

Predicted XI

James Trafford could be back in goal for the Premier League fixture, since this match will be mostly commemorative and no longer affects the result of the title.

At right-back, Matheus Nunes found himself and played a fantastic season. On the last day of the campaign, he should start once again.

In his last match as a blue, John Stones should start in order to receive his flowers. By his side, Ruben Dias could make a return to the line-up.

Josko Gvardiol could also pick up some minutes at left-back ahead of the FIFA World Cup this summer.

After being left out of City’s matchday squad twice in a row, Nico Gonzalez could come back straight into the XI.

It is time to say farewell to captain Bernardo Silva. The Portugal international is set to start in his last game at the Etihad Stadium.

Nico O’Reilly could be given a chance as a central midfielder with an attacking role, having played most of the campaign inverting from the left-back spot.

Similarly to what happened against Crystal Palace, Rayan Ait-Nouri might take advantage of Josko Gvardiol’s positioning and play further up the pitch, as a winger.

Omar Marmoush may start against Villa since Erling Haaland has probably guaranteed the Premier League Golden Boot on 27 goals – five ahead of Brentford’s Igor Thiago.

With an alternative team, Savinho might be given a golden shot to prove why he should stay at the club next season.

Starting XI: Trafford; Nunes, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Nico, Bernardo, O’Reilly; Ait-Nouri, Marmoush, Savinho

Substitutes: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Guehi, Foden, Kovacic, Reijnders, Cherki, Haaland, Doku