Manchester City host newly-crowned Europa League champions, Aston Villa in their final match of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
Pep Guardiola’s City will finish second irrespective of the result in Bernardo Silva and John Stones‘ final match at the club, whilst Guardiola is bringing down the curtain on his decade in charge.
Villa will finish fourth if avoid defeat but their Europa League title success would mean that defeat coupled with a Liverpool win at home to Brentford would see them finish fifth, and consequently allow the sixth-placed team to also achieve Champions League qualification.
Team News
Man City have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Villa could be without goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez after he broke his finger during their Europa League title-winning final against SC Freiburg.
Alysson (muscle) and Boubacar Kamara (both knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man City host Villa at Etihad Stadium on Sunday 24 May at 4pm BST, live on Sky Sports Action in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man City have won two of their last five league meetings against Villa (W2, L3).
- Aston Villa are winless in their last 15 league visits to Man City (L15).
- Two of City’s last three meetings against Villa ended in a 2-1 result – of which both teams won one match apiece, whilst Villa won the other clash by a 1-0 result at home earlier this season.
- City are unbeaten in their last 17 league matches at home (W14, D3).
- Three of Villa’s last six league goals have been scored by Ollie Watkins.
Prediction
With the title fight now over and this match marking the farewell of three City icons, it is going to be interesting to see how they approach this psychologically as there will be some teary emotions yet there’s the motivation of saying farewell with one last win.
Villa meanwhile are coming into this match off the back of a clinically ruthless display against Freiburg in which they had to be patient at times, yet had the clinical edge to convert their chances in a manner which shows how far they’ve come under Unai Emery.
I however do expect them lose here given their awful form away to City but they should still give Guardiola’s Cityzens one last battle until the final whistle.
Prediction: Man City 2-1 Aston Villa
Result: Man City 1-2 Aston Villa