2023-24 Premier League: Week 31 – Manchester City vs Aston Villa

Manchester City continue their title defence against top-four chasing Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium.

Victory would see Man City go top if Arsenal loses elsewhere, whilst Villa will stay fourth with a win.

Team News

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Nathan Ake is ruled out for Man City after he suffered a unspecified injury in their goalless draw against Arsenal.

Ederson (muscle) and Kyle Walker (hamstring) remain absent.

Villa will be without Ollie Watkins after he suffered a hamstring injury during their win over Wolves.

Jacob Ramsey (foot), John McGinn (suspension), Matty Cash (hamstring), Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara (both knee) and Emiliano Buendia (ACL) remain on the side-lines.

When is Kick-Off?

Man City host Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 3 April in a 8:15pm BST kick-off, live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.

Stat Attack

• Man City have lost one of their last 14 league meetings against Aston Villa (W11, D2, L1).
• Villa have lost each of their last 13 visits to Man City (L13).
• Both teams have scored in five of their last six league meetings, in which Man City scored 11 goals to Villa’s six across those five particular meetings.
• Failure to score would see City go two consecutive league matches without scoring for the first time since March 2016.
• Villa are unbeaten in five league matches on the road in 2024 (W3, D2).

Prediction

Having lacked the clinical end product to beat Arsenal’s resilient defensive play despite their dominance, Man City know that this game is pretty much a must-win if want to keep pace with the Gunners but they must be much tidier in putting their chances away.

Villa meanwhile delivered a well-executed win over Wolves because whilst they weren’t at their top best, they were simply clinical and managed the game well which has to be the case if want any chance at a result here.

Watkins though will be a huge loss up front for Villa but if they can keep it tight then they could well nick something, otherwise I expect City to enjoy a routine win to boost their title defence prospects.

Prediction; Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa