| Man City vs Aston Villa |
|---|
| SCHEDULE | TIME |
|---|---|
| GAME | Man City vs Aston Villa |
| DATE | 12/02/2023 |
| TIME | 10:00 PM (Indian Standard Time) |
| ARENA | Etihad Stadium |
| LEAGUE | EPL |
| FULL TIME |
|---|
| 3-1 |
Match Preview of Man City vs Aston Villa
Having experienced one of the most turbulent weeks off the field in their 143-year history, Manchester City return to Premier League action with the visit of Aston Villa to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Pep Guardiola's side fell to a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last time out, while the visitors are looking to bounce back from a defeat of their own after going down 4-2 to Leicester City.
While the Citizens have emphatically denied the charges - which have now been passed on to an independent commission - a sombre atmosphere would have surely been present at the training ground this week, as players and staff rack their brains regarding their futures in Manchester.
There will be no rapid decision regarding the accusations, but City could be hit with unprecedented sanctions if found guilty - from points deductions and fines to expulsion from the league - and Guardiola will no doubt be dreading the questions coming his way as City aim to avoid falling further behind Arsenal at the summit.
The reigning champions could not take advantage of the Gunners' slip-up at Everton last time out, as their Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hoodoo continued courtesy of Harry Kane's record-breaking 267th Lilywhites goal, leaving them five points behind Mikel Arteta's side having played a game more.
The gap at the top will increase to eight points should Arsenal put Brentford to the sword on Saturday, so extending their winning run at the Etihad Stadium to five games in all competitions is of paramount importance to City, whose fans are in desperate need of something to cheer.
Our Predicted Lineups
Man City possible starting lineup:Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Laporte, Ake; Gundogan, Rodri, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Haaland, Grealish
Aston Villa possible starting lineup: starting lineup:Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Kamara, Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Bailey
Who will win the match?
We say: Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa. Even with events off the field threatening to derail their season further, a wounded Man City at home are a beast to be feared, and no surprises should be sprung on the Etihad turf. Villa's taste for goals under Emery should briefly serve them well against a City backline constantly chopping and changing under Guardiola, but we still expect the champions to keep the pressure on Arsenal with a welcome triumph.