Manchester City - Aston Villa predictions and free betting tips [03/04/2024]

On Wednesday, 3rd April, Manchester City will host Aston Villa as part of the 31st tour of the Premier League. The reigning champions were content with a draw against Arsenal last weekend, while Unai Emery's pupils clinched a convincing victory over Wolverhampton with a score of 2:0.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester City: Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Doku, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland.
Aston Villa: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Luiz, Tielemans, Rogers; Diaby, Duran. 

Stadium

The match will take place in Manchester, at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City

This season's English champs are vying for another title with Liverpool and Arsenal. Currently, The Citizens are sitting 3rd in the league table, trailing the leading Merseysiders by 3 points. They haven't lost any of their last 14 league games (10 wins and 4 draws), but failed to succeed in the last two rounds: draws with Liverpool (1:1) and with Arsenal last weekend (0:0). Pep Guardiola's proteges only managed 1 shot on target, while The Gunners did not create any dangerous moments at Ortega's goal.

Just before the international break, The Sky Blues thrashed Newcastle and advanced to the semi-finals of the FA Cup (2:0), while in the Champions League they logically beat Copenhagen (6:2 on aggregate) and will meet Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. City are only third in the overall home performance standings: in 15 matches at the Etihad, the hosts have collected 35 points, scored 34 goals, and conceded just 12 (the best indicator). 

Aston Villa

Aston Villa confirms its ambitions and is seriously aiming to qualify for the Champions League next season. Currently, the Birmingham side occupies the 4th spot in the Premier League table and, having played one match more, have distanced themselves from fifth-placed Tottenham by 3 points. After three victories in a row, Unai Emery's charges faced a fiasco when they were crushed at home by the Spurs with a score of 0:4. Following this, The Lions drew 1:1 with West Ham, and last weekend they beat Wolverhampton (2:0).

For the first time in 12 months, French national team call-up Musa Diaby opened the scoring in the first half with a left-footed shot, and then assisted Ezri Konsa, who sent the ball into Jose Sa's goal. Villa occupies the fourth place in the overall standings for playing away from home, having gained 25 points in 15 matches outside their home walls. In the Conference League, the yellow-blues easily overcame Ajax (4:0 on aggregate) and will face Lille in the quarter-finals. 

Head-to-Head Matches

In December, the Birmingham side beat Man City at home with a score of 1:0. However, repeating that trick will be extremely difficult: The Lions suffered 13 defeats in a row at the Etihad in the Premier League.   

Match prediction for Manchester City vs. Aston Villa

The Lions proved their competitiveness against City in the first round and overall perform well away from home, however, the guests' supporters shouldn't expect to gain points at the Etihad. Manchester City is racing full steam behind the leading Liverpool and will be motivated to make amends for Sunday's shortcoming in front of the home crowd. There is no doubt that Guardiola will field the strongest lineup, while the Birmingham side are facing some personnel issues due to injuries. My prediction - a victory for the favorites with a handicap -1.5.

Total prediction

In five of the previous six head-to-head matches, there was a goal exchange. City is far from impeccable in defence and concedes on average a goal per match, so I expect a high-scoring shootout. 

Corner kicks prediction

The hosts will take possession of the ball from the first minutes and start methodically cracking the dense defence of The Lions. I bet on the individual total of the Mancunians for corners is over 6.5.

Yellow cards prediction

Aston Villa will have to foul a lot, regularly interrupting the pace of the opponent's attacks. I place a bet on The Lions leading in yellow cards. 

Score prediction

I bet on the exact score 3:1 in favor of Manchester City