City Xtra
·21 December 2024
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Yahoo sportsCity Xtra
·21 December 2024
Manchester City face Aston Villa in their latest Premier League challenge with a trip to Villa Park on the agenda in the early Saturday lunchtime kick-off this weekend.
Nobody needs reminding of the fact that City have found themselves in a torrid run of form as of late, with just one win to their name in their last 11 matches across all competitions, with eight defeats coming in that run.
Two matches will remain for Manchester City before the turn of the year and the reopening of the transfer window after the visit to Aston Villa, with a home clash against Everton on Boxing Day before closing out 2024 with a trip to Leicester City.
Aston Villa come into this one off the back of a defeat of their own having lost 2-1 away to Nottingham Forest, with Unai Emery’s side in a mixed vein of form whilst balancing UEFA Champions League duties.
Manchester City will take on Villa without star central defender Ruben Dias, who is sidelined for up to a month with a muscular problem, joining Nathan Ake, Rodri, and Oscar Bobb on the confirmed absentees list.
Manuel Akanji and John Stones returned to full Manchester City training over the last week whilst Ederson has been managing with some niggles in his leg, and was labelled as a doubt for this weekend’s contest by Pep Guardiola during his pre-match press conference.
Ahead of kick-off at Villa Park, here is how both Unai Emery and Pep Guardiola have lined up their respective Aston Villa and Manchester City sides in Premier League action!
Starting XI: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Kamara, Onana, Tielemans; McGinn (C), Durán, Rogers.
Substitutes: Olsen, Mings, Nedeljković, Bogarde, Maatsen, Barkley, Buendía, Bailey, Watkins.
Starting XI: Ortega Moreno; Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo (C); Foden, Haaland, Grealish.
Substitutes: Carson, Walker, Simpson-Pusey, Ake, O’Reilly, McAtee, De Bruyne, Savinho, Doku.