Aston Villa vs Man City: Predicted lineups, team news and score prediction | OneFootball

Aston Villa welcome Manchester City to Villa Park this Saturday for a high-stakes Premier League encounter. Both teams enter the match following recent disappointments - Villa's late collapse against Nottingham Forest and City's concerning run of form have added extra significance to this fixture that could significantly impact the league standings.

Villa's recent form and squad status

Aston Villa's remarkable home record of seven undefeated Premier League matches at Villa Park has turned their stadium into a challenging venue for visitors. A win would see them leapfrog Manchester City in the table, marking their exceptional season progress.

Their recent loss to Forest, where they couldn't maintain their lead despite Jhon Duran's goal and Emi Martinez's outstanding performance, has sparked renewed focus within the squad.

The home team faces several personnel decisions. Jacob Ramsey will remain sidelined until January with a muscle injury, while Leon Bailey's thigh issue puts his availability in question.

The squad receives a boost with Tyrone Mings' return from illness, providing defensive options alongside Pau Torres and Diego Carlos. Duran has shown promising form while deputising for Ollie Watkins.

City's form concerns

Manchester City arrive at Villa Park experiencing their worst run under Pep Guardiola. Their recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United marks their eighth loss in eleven games across all competitions, leaving them nine points behind Liverpool.

While they lead the Premier League in creating scoring opportunities, their finishing efficiency has dropped to its lowest point since 2006-07.

The visitors continue managing their injury list, with Rodri, Nathan Ake, and Oscar Bobb unavailable. Manuel Akanji might return after recovering from pelvic problems, while Rico Lewis's return from suspension strengthens their defence. The attack features Erling Haaland, supported by Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, as Phil Foden looks to find his scoring form.

Predicted Lineups

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis, Kovacic, Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku, Haaland

Score prediction

Based on current form and Villa's home advantage, this match points towards a close Villa victory, potentially ending 2-1 in their favour. City's defensive struggles could prove decisive against Villa's sharp attacking lineup, despite the champions' wealth of offensive talent.