Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE!
The race for Champions League qualification is the sole focus tonight as Manchester City and Aston Villa meet at the Etihad Stadium. With the top five in the Premier League all qualifying for Europe’s top table for the first time next season, the battle for those valuable spots has never been fiercer. Just three points separate Nottingham Forest in third and Villa in seventh.
It was a nightmare weekend for fourth-placed Newcastle, who were thumped by Villa as all their top-five rivals win, including Chelsea’s injury-time win at Fulham on Sunday and Forest withstanding a barrage from Tottenham last night. City won at Everton and now are looking to win three Premier League games on the bounce for the first time since October.
Villa scored four over Newcastle, just days after a gruelling loss on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, but will a third huge game in eight days be too much for Unai Emery’s squad? Changes are expected from both team, including a possible start for Marcus Rashford against his parent club’s rivals. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Aston Villa have not won a Premier League game at Manchester City since 2007.
A staggering record for two of the biggest clubs in the country.
Five minutes until kick-off.
Marcus Rashford needs to perform tonight. He has a good record against Manchester City.
“I decide [the team] and I wanted the quality of McAtee, so hopefully he can perform. We have five finals, here’s the first one, at home. Let’s go.
“The results have helped [confidence], we are playing for different targets than usual but the fight is there. Together we are stronger.”
Ahead of the game, Manchester City supporters are protesting outside the ground over the need for more season tickets.
Tonight’s game is not a sell out, despite its importance. An adult ticket can still be purchased for a staggering £71.
Manchester City: Aston Villa (H); Wolves (H); Southampton (A); Bournemouth (H); Fulham (A)
Aston Villa: Manchester City (A); Fulham (H); Bournemouth (A); Tottenham (H); Manchester United (A)
A win tonight for either could be pivotal.
“Being consistent in the Premier League is the most important, and today the demand on us will be so huge. It is a huge challenge for us, to win the duels, get confidence, get comfortable.”
“City have not been as consistent as the last few years, but are still contenders for the top four. There are still matches to play, it’s not a final, but it’s very important.
“They are the favourites, they are in a good moment and we are trying to get to our best. The last match you could see that, and hopefully tonight you will see it. We are motivated and very excited.”
So, McAtee gets the nod ahead of both Savinho and Doku while O’Reilly again keeps his place with Khusanov sticking on the bench with Foden.
Rashford, on loan from Manchester United of course, starts for Aston Villa as Watkins makes way. Asensio and McGinn are also on the bench, with Ramsey and Onana starting.
Man City XI: Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Gundogan; McAtee, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Marmoush
Subs: Carson, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Akanji, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden, Lewis
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans, Onana; Rogers, Ramsey; Rashford
Subs: Olsen, Maatsen, Garcia, Disasi, McGinn, Barkley, Malen, Asensio, Watkins
Here’s how the visitors look.
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