Manchester City vs Aston VillaEngland – Premier LeagueDate: Saturday, 26 October 2019Kick-off at 12:30 UK/ 13:30 CETVenue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester).TEAM NEWS
Manchester City
Rodri suffered a hamstring injury in the midweek win over Atalanta and ruled out, although John Stones back fit and should get the nod over Nicolas Otamendi together Fernandinho.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has a knee problem and will join the Spaniard on the sidelines, along with long-term absentees Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte.
David and Bernardo Silva played no part in the Champions League on Tuesday so it is likely to start this one, with Phil Foden one of them to drop to the bench.
Aston Villa
Jota, who has undergone surgery on a hernia, is the only player in the treatment room for Villa, with both James Chester and Jonathan Kodjia PL2 start the match on Monday as they rebuild their match fitness.
Trezeguet made a positive impact from the bench against Brighton last weekend and could replace Anwar El Ghazi, while Wesley ineffective in victory and Kienan Davis was waiting in the wings.
Manchester City vs Aston Villa Head-to-head (h2h)
Former city won five of six games.
The combined scoreline of 8-0 to the two previous clashes, the title-holder support.
Seven of the nine meetings resulted male former Dean Smith failed to find the back of the net.
Previous nine league meetings in this place ended in home wins.
Host has racked up a total of 32 goals in their last nine games in this stadium.
Prediction
Manchester City will take confidence from a big win in midweek into this game against a team that are not likely or very well-equipped to just sit back and soak up pressure.
One of only two teams have won their last two games, Villa knows how important a late winner against Brighton ahead of a meeting with the top two but will be hoping to cause the City defense problems despite having scored 14 times in their last five games.
The visitors had to carve out a few chances on the counter but their defensive record for now - keeping just one clean sheet - would suggest that the hosts will have too much for them.
Prediction: Manchester City 3: 1 Aston Villa
