Our Prediction for Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Aston Villa welcome Manchester City to Villa Park for a crucial Premier League encounter on Sunday. Both teams enter the weekend in good form, but City’s superior depth and attacking balance could make the difference. Villa’s recent resurgence under Unai Emery makes them dangerous, yet City’s control and finishing quality should give them the edge.
Prediction: Manchester City to win 2–1
Betting tip: Manchester City to win and over 2.5 goals
Aston Villa Form Analysis
Aston Villa continue their strong run under Unai Emery, securing a 2–1 victory away to Tottenham Hotspur in their most recent Premier League fixture. That result marked Villa’s fifth win in six matches in all competitions, showing a return to consistency after a slow start to the campaign.
At home, Villa have been solid with two wins and one draw in their last three league games at Villa Park. Ollie Watkins remains central to their attacking play, while Morgan Rogers’ equaliser against Spurs highlighted his improving form. John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara provide energy and leadership in midfield, and Ezri Konsa’s partnership with Pau Torres continues to stabilise the defence.
While Villa’s attacking play is sharp, defensive lapses against top-tier opposition remain a concern. They have conceded in four of their last five matches and will need focus against City’s fluid attacking structure.
Manchester City Form Analysis
Manchester City are once again among the frontrunners in the Premier League table, sitting second with 16 points from eight games. Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in five across all competitions, coming off a composed 2–0 win against Everton.
City’s metrics underline their dominance, averaging 59% possession and 12 shots per game while conceding less than a goal per match. Jeremy Doku and Savio continue to provide width and pace, while Erling Haaland remains the focal point of the attack. Teun Reijnders has adapted well to his midfield role, maintaining balance and structure in the absence of Rodri.
Defensively, City look settled, conceding only once in their last four league fixtures. Their ability to control tempo and exploit space on transitions will test Villa’s back line throughout the game.
Best Betting Odds for Aston Villa vs Manchester City
| Market |
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Man City to Win | 1.60 | 1.57 | 1.55 |
| Draw | 4.00 | 3.80 | 3.90 |
| Aston Villa to Win | 5.00 | 4.80 | 4.75 |
| Over 2.5 Goals | 1.67 | 1.65 | 1.63 |
| Both Teams to Score | 1.70 | 1.68 | 1.65 |
At Therealefl.co.uk, we share honest and data-driven Premier League predictions and football betting tips that combine form analysis, team news, and insight from across the English Premier League to help fans make more informed choices each week.
Last Encounters Between Aston Villa and Manchester City
- Manchester City 2–1 Aston Villa – April 2025
- Aston Villa 2–1 Manchester City – December 2024
- Manchester City 4–1 Aston Villa – September 2023
- Aston Villa 1–0 Manchester City – May 2023
- Manchester City 3–1 Aston Villa – February 2023
Manchester City have won 10 of the last 13 head-to-head meetings, though Villa’s home form under Emery has improved and includes a victory over City last season.
Aston Villa vs Manchester City Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
GK: E. Martínez
RB: M. Cash CB: E. Konsa CB: P. Torres LB: L. Digne
CDM: B. Kamara CM: A. Onana
RW: E. Guessand CAM: M. Rogers LW: J. McGinn
ST: D. Malen
Injured/Suspended: Youri Tielemans (out), Andres Garcia (out)
Coach: Unai Emery
Manchester City (4-1-4-1)
GK: G. Donnarumma
RB: N. O’Reilly CB: R. Dias CB: N. Aké LB: J. Gvardiol
CDM: T. Reijnders
RM: M. Nunes CM: N. González LM: J. Doku
ST: E. Haaland
Injured/Suspended: Rodri (out), Abdukodir Khusanov (out), Rayan Aït-Nouri (doubtful)
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Where to Watch Aston Villa vs Manchester City
You can watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League.
Kick-off: Sunday, 26 October 2025, 14:00 UTC (15:00 BST)
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Players That Used to Play in the EFL
Ollie Watkins – Brentford, Exeter City
Watkins rose through the ranks at Exeter City, scoring 26 goals in League Two before earning a move to Brentford in 2017. His 25-goal Championship campaign in 2019/20 helped the Bees reach the play-off final and secured his Premier League move to Aston Villa.
Ezri Konsa – Charlton Athletic, Brentford
Konsa made over 70 appearances for Charlton Athletic in League One before transferring to Brentford in 2018. His standout performances in the Championship under Thomas Frank attracted attention from the Premier League, leading to his £12 million move to Villa in 2019.
Morgan Rogers – Middlesbrough (loan)
Rogers spent time on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship during the 2022/23 season, where he registered 7 goal contributions in 35 appearances. His development there provided valuable senior experience before his move to Aston Villa.
Matty Cash – Nottingham Forest
Cash made over 130 appearances for Nottingham Forest in the Championship, known for his energy and attacking play down the right flank. His performances earned him the move to Villa in 2020, where he quickly established himself as a Premier League regular.
