Man City XI vs Aston Villa: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

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Evening Standard

·23 ottobre 2025

Man City XI vs Aston Villa: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

Pep Guardiola finds himself sweating on Rodri’s fitness once again

Pep Guardiola is braced to be without key midfielder Rodri as Man City visit Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

OneFootball Video

The Ballon d’Or-winning Spaniard enjoyed a consistent run of games in the early stages of this season after recovering from an ACL injury, but found himself sidelined again before the October international break with a hamstring injury.

Both Rodri and Guardiola played down the injury’s severity when speaking to the media, but the player did not appear in the matchday squad for either of City’s recent wins over Everton and Villarreal.

Nico Gonzalez has deputised him in both of those outings, though, and should be called upon again in Birmingham despite picking up a minor knock against Villarreal.

Facing a rejuvenated Villa side, whose slow start to the campaign is now a distant memory, Guardiola will take no chances with his selection.

He will be likely to name a first-choice defence, and summer signing Tijjani Reijnders should come back in attacking midfield after being rested against Villarreal.

Rayan Cherki has appeared off the bench in each of City’s last two matches having recovered from an injury of his own, and could be in with a chance of making the starting lineup, though he must unseat Savinho to do so.

Phil Foden continues to impress as a No10, and should also return to the XI after playing no part against Villarreal. The free-scoring Erling Haaland should assume his usual place at centre-forward.

Abdukodir Khusanov remains injured, with no clear timeframe yet revealed for his return, while Rayan Ait-Nouri could be involved after returning to training last week.

Predicted Man City XI (4-1-4-1): Donnarumma; Gvardiol, Stones, Dias, Nunes; Gonzalez; Savinho, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland

Injured: Khusanov

Doubts: Rodri, Ait-Nouri

Time and date: 2pm GMT on Sunday, October 26, 2025

How to watch: Sky Sports