Manchester City vs Aston Villa: Premier League Preview

With just a handful of games left in the campaign and five Champions League spots up for grabs, both sides know the margin for error is shrinking. Manchester City edged closer to securing another season in Europe’s elite competition by defeating Everton 2-0 on Saturday, a result that cut the gap to third-placed Newcastle United, who in turn were brushed aside 4-1 by Villa later that day.

City’s recent run — 10 points from the last four games and three clean sheets — has steadied the ship after a shaky winter. Defensive solidity has been key to their resurgence, even as home form shows some vulnerability. Their 21 home goals conceded is already their joint-worst tally at the Etihad since 2003-04, with three home games still to play.

Despite that, the Etihad remains a fortress for most visitors. Only Liverpool and Real Madrid have managed to leave with a win in 2025, and City’s head-to-head record against Villa is formidable: 14 consecutive home league wins — the second-longest such streak in Premier League history.

Head-to-Head and Recent Form

Historically, this fixture has tilted heavily in City's favour, but Unai Emery’s Aston Villa arrive with growing confidence. The Midlands club were 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture in December, and have won two of their last three meetings with City — as many as they had managed in their previous 23 encounters.

A win on Tuesday would give Villa their first league double over City since the 1962-63 season. Momentum is certainly with them — they’ve won five consecutive Premier League games and boast three straight clean-sheet away victories, their best such streak in over 16 years. Extending that to four would be a club record.

That said, Villa have struggled away to top-seven sides this season, taking just one point from five games in that bracket. Whether Emery’s side can overcome that trend will be a key factor in this contest.

Key Stats

• City have scored at least twice in each of their last 13 home league games against Villa.
• Villa are unbeaten in their last three away Premier League games, all won to nil.
• Mateo Kovačić has scored six goals this season — more than in his previous six Premier League seasons combined.
• Ollie Watkins is level with Gabby Agbonlahor as Villa’s all-time top Premier League scorer (74 goals).

Team News

Manchester City

• Out: Ederson (groin), Rodri and Nathan Aké (both unlikely to feature again this season), Erling Haaland and John Stones (expected to return in May)
• Doubtful: None reported.
• Returnees: Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji returned to the bench at Everton and could feature from the start.

Aston Villa

• Out: Pau Torres (minor issue, missed last match but not ruled out), no long-term absentees confirmed.
• Back in contention: Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey have returned to fitness; Bailey was not in the squad at the weekend but could feature.

Possible changes: Marcus Rashford could return to the starting XI, with him and Watkins being rotated over the last few weeks.