Tuesday night at the Etihad isn’t just another Premier League fixture—it’s a Champions League six-pointer.
Manchester City and Aston Villa are locked in a battle where every point matters, and this clash could shape the final top-five picture.
The Stakes
With five Premier League spots available for Champions League qualification this season, the finish line feels closer, but no less intense. After a huge weekend for both clubs, the spotlight now shifts to the blue half of Manchester.
City are back in the groove. A 2-0 win at Goodison Park, sealed late by Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic, kept their unbeaten April rolling. Pep Guardiola’s men have taken 10 points from the last 12, and crucially, they’ve tightened things up at the back, with three clean sheets in that stretch.
But Villa did their part too, blowing Newcastle away with a 4-1 masterclass at Villa Park. That result handed City a big favour and pulled Unai Emery’s team just one point behind the defending champions.
City:
City’s home has been a stronghold, only Liverpool and Real Madrid have walked away with a win in 2025. And against Villa? Utter dominance. Fourteen straight wins at the Etihad against the Midlands club, dating back to pre-Guardiola days.
But this season hasn’t been flawless. City have already conceded 21 goals at home—their joint-worst return since 2003-04. That vulnerability could give Villa a glimmer of hope, especially given their recent resurgence.
Villa:
Unai Emery’s side are flying. Saturday’s blitz of Newcastle extended their domestic run to 10 wins in 11 (all competitions), with just one defeat—away to PSG in Europe.
Their away form?
Three consecutive league wins. Three clean sheets. A first-ever opportunity to make it four shutout wins on the bounce away from home in the top flight.
However, the one blemish? Big-six away days. Villa have taken just one point from five of those outings this season. Tuesday is their shot to break that hoodoo.
Team News
Manchester City:
- Kovacic, fresh off his 199th Premier League appearance and a goal at Everton, should start.
- Foden and Akanji returned to the bench last time out—both pushing for starts.
- Ederson (groin), Rodri and Ake (out for the season), plus Haaland and Stones (targeting May returns), leave Pep with depth issues.
Aston Villa:
- Pau Torres (minor knock) could miss out again.
- Barkley and Bailey are back; Rashford could start in his old stomping ground.
- Ollie Watkins is now tied with Gabby Agbonlahor atop Villa’s all-time Premier League scoring charts (74 goals). He hit the woodwork twice vs. Newcastle—he’s knocking.
Predicted XIs
Man City:
Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, De Bruyne; McAtee, Foden, Doku; Marmoush
Villa:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Rashford; Watkins
Final Word
Villa’s confidence is sky-high. City’s record speaks for itself. Something’s gotta give.
Score prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa
City’s experience in navigating crunch-time fixtures gives them the edge. Villa have been electric, but against top clubs on the road, they’ve come up short. That trend may continue—even if they push Pep’s side to the limit.