Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
Aston Villa currently sit seventh in the standings, but they are just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City. Even third-placed Newcastle United are within striking distance—only two points ahead. The race for UEFA Champions League spots is incredibly tight, making this fixture crucial for both sides.
Manchester City
Manchester City are unbeaten in over a month, having recorded four wins and two draws. However, several other teams are enjoying even stronger runs of form—Aston Villa among them. The squad have won five consecutive Premier League matches. Manchester City could have already moved up to third place, but were held to a goalless draw by local rivals Manchester United. In that match, Manchester City managed just two shots on target from 13 attempts and failed to create a single clear-cut chance (xG 0.91). Even the 5:2 demolition of Crystal Palace came after early difficulties, when Crystal Palace took a 2:0 lead in the opening stages of the first half.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa, meanwhile, have not only won five Premier League matches in the past 30 days—they also reached the FA Cup semi-finals and pushed Paris Saint-Germain to the brink. Despite trailing 5:1 on aggregate, Aston Villa turned the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on its head with three goals between the 34th and 57th minutes. They registered 17 shots, 9 of which were on target, and overperformed their expected goals statistics (2.05 xG). Just three days later, the squad dismantled EFL Cup holders Newcastle United (4:1) at Villa Park.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa Prediction
Playing away will naturally be more difficult, especially against such a seasoned opponent. However, we believe Aston Villa’s worst-case scenario is a narrow one-goal defeat, which is the line we’re backing.
