Aston Villa vs Man City predictions: Champs could be in for tough time
- Aston Villa have won their last 13 home Premier League matches
- Nine of Manchester City’s last 12 league games have featured more than two goals
- Recommended bet: Over 1.5 Aston Villa goals
Manchester City’s visit to Aston Villa is arguably the highlight of a packed Premier League midweek programme, and the champions will have to be at the top of their game to get something from fortress Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s team have won their last 13 league games on their own patch and take on a team who have slipped to third in the table following successive draws against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.
No quarter is likely to be given as reborn Villa have the chance to leapfrog City in the table if they can post another home success, so it should be a cracking game that lives up to the billing.
Team news
Villa will still be without Bertrand Traore, Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings, but they welcome back Boubacar Kamara, who has served his one-match ban for picking up five yellow cards.
City boss Pep Guardiola will have to shuffle the pack with defensive midfielder Rodri and former Villa favourite Jack Grealish both suspended.
Wideman Jeremy Doku will face a late fitness test after limping out of Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Tottenham, while Kevin De Bruyne remains a long-term absentee.
The stats
Aston Villa have won their last 13 Premier League home matches.
Villa have scored 23 goals in their last six league games at Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins has scored in his last four Aston Villa appearances.
Manchester City have failed to win their last three league games.
Nine of City’s last 12 league games have featured more than two goals.
City have conceded ten goals in their last four outings.
Prediction
Aston Villa could not be enjoying better home form and even their away performances have been generally good, which has catapulted them into the reckoning for a top-four place this season.
They now face their toughest test of the campaign with a visit from the treble winners, but there is every chance they will be up to the task after 13 straight Villa Park league wins.
Villa have been rampant on their own patch, scoring 23 goals in their last six home games, and what they have seen from City over the last few weeks should encourage them to think they can score at least twice in Wednesday’s showdown.
Pep Guardiola’s side conceded four goals against Chelsea, had to come back from two goals down to beat RB Leipzig 3-2 in the Champions League and then let in another three goals in Sunday’s draw against Tottenham.
There is every chance they can bounce back with a bang, but they are not helped by their defensive midfield star Rodri being suspended, as they may expose the defence even more.
There seems plenty of scope for a positive Villa performance and they look a good bet to put at least two goals in the City net.
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