Predicted Starting Line-Up: Aston Villa vs Manchester City (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City visit Villa Park this weekend in the hope of winning an away match against Aston Villa for the first time since 2021.

In UEFA Champions League action this week, Manchester City travelled to Eastern Spain and won 0-2 against La Liga outfit Villarreal in what many saw as the Savinho show, with Erling Haaland – as always – and Bernardo Silva scoring both goals of the match in the first-half.

The Cityzens shift their focus back to the Premier League this time around, and more specifically to Aston Villa – who have not had the best start to their latest season under Unai Emery.

Last time around against the Villains, the Blues secured victory at the Etihad Stadium in a 2-1 win thanks to a late Matheus Nunes goal in added time, following on from a defeat by the same scoreline at Villa Park earlier in the season.

Manager Pep Guardiola confirmed during his media duties on Friday afternoon that both Abdukodir Khusanov and Rodri are yet to return to action, and Nico Gonzalez is a doubt after suffering a knock on Tuesday night against Villarreal.

City remain unbeaten in their last nine matches across competitions and currently sit second in the Premier League table ahead of the latest round of action, and victory against Villa may be crucial to keep confidence soaring.

Given the importance of the weekend’s match in terms of continuing the unbeaten streak and the difficulty of the task at hand, here is our predicted starting XI for Manchester City’s trip to Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon!

Predicted XI

Gianluigi Donnarumma is Manchester City’s first choice goalkeeper since joining the club on deadline day, and having also been crowned the best in his position at the recent 2025 Ballon D’or, the Italian is an easy pick in a squad prediction.

Praised by Pep Guardiola to the highest extent during his pre-match media duties, Matheus Nunes should start once again for Manchester City, particularly since Abdukodir Khusanov is still sidelined due to injury. 

Portuguese international Rúben Dias is in our predicted squad alongside John Stones, who returned to his infamous pivot role against Villarreal in midweek and was wonderful to watch as expected.

Now as a left-back or left-sided centre-back, Josko Gvardiol is quick to contain counter-attacks and classy to create plays from defensive positions when in possession, meaning he should be in the first eleven this weekend.

Given the uncertainty over Nico Gonzalez’s availability coming into the weekend and Rodri’s confirmed absence, Mateo Kovacic could be the one to play as a defensive midfielder for Manchester City.

After scoring midweek, club captain Bernardo Silva should be in line to start one more time this weekend, accompanied by Phil Foden in an advanced central role against Aston Villa with Rayan Cherki still returning to his best form and highest level of match fitness.

Over on the right of Manchester City’s attacking trio this weekend, Norwegian international and Academy graduate Oscar Bobb could be the one Pep Guardiola needs to put Aston Villa’s defence in danger.

Alongside his close friend between the posts for Manchester City, striker Erling Haaland is perhaps the only certainty in the starting line-up at present. He has scored in 12 (yes, TWELVE) games in a row for both club and country and might keep going.

Rising in form as a chance creator for the club, Savinho might have the chance to keep his assisting streak going this time out, and make it three passes to goals in three successive outings – this time as a left winger.

Starting XI: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Bernardo, Foden; Bobb, Haaland, Savinho.

Substitutes: Trafford, Lewis, Ake, Ait-Nouri, O’Reilly, Reijnders, Cherki, Doku, Marmoush.