Fifth faces seventh in Tuesday’s only Premier League clash, as Manchester City and Aston Villa go head-to-head in a crucial encounter (20:00 kick-off).
Just one point separates the two sides, with both battling to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football for next season.
Tip 1
Only Liverpool have scored more goals than Manchester City in the league this season, with the Citizens having found the net on 64 occasions.
Villa have netted 12 goals in their last four Premier League games and have scored in their last eight meetings against City.
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Tip 2
With Erling Haaland sidelined by injury, City’s main goal threat has been January signing Omar Marmoush, who has already scored six league goals.
The Egyptian international has scored all of those goals at the Etihad and in four of the last five home league games.
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Last season’s champions are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games (three wins, two draws), which has seen them move into the top-five.
Things have improved defensively as well, with Pep Guardiola’s men conceding just two goals in their last four matches.
City have only failed to score in one of their 11 home games in all competitions in 2025, that was a 0-2 defeat to Liverpool.
Ederson sat out the win at Everton due to a groin problem and Stefan Ortega is expected to start again between the posts. Nathan Ake, John Stones and Rodri are all still sidelined by injuries as well.
Man City Predicted XI: Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Savinho; Marmoush.
It’s five league wins in a row for Unai Emery’s squad, with Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle moving them to within a point of Tuesday’s opponents.
Villa have also won their last three away league games – against Brentford, Brighton and Southampton – without conceding a goal.
Emery has confirmed that he has a fully fit squad to select from, with striker Ollie Watkins likely to start after his impressive performance at the weekend.
Aston Villa Predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Tielemans, Onana; Rogers, McGinn, Rashford; Watkins.
Man City have had the upper hand in recent meetings between the two sides, winning 11 of the last 15 encounters between the clubs.
Villa have won just two of those 15 meetings, but one of those was in the reverse fixture at Villa Park this season, when they ran out 2-1 winners.
Phil Foden scored the late goal for City in December, while the England international scored a hat-trick in the Blues’ 4-1 success in this fixture last season.
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