2026-27 Premier League: Week Eight – Aston Villa vs Man City

Aston Villa face a difficult Premier League encounter against leaders, Manchester City. 

Victory would lift Villa up to sixth if Ipswich lose to Nottingham Forest on Friday evening, whilst Man City can stay top with a win.

 

Team News

Johan Manzambi could return for Villa after he was rested in their 3-1 Champions League victory over Viking, due to a knock suffered in their 1-0 Premier League win at Newcastle last weekend.

Modu Cisse (groin/hip) could too return but Matteo Ruggeri, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (both hamstring) and Amadou Onana (ACL) remain sidelined.

Man City could welcome Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes (both knock) and Nico O’Reilly (back) into contention, after the trio missed their 5-1 Champions League win over AEK Athens.

Antoine Semenyo remains ruled out with a knee injury.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Villa host Man City at Villa Park on Saturday 24 October at 12:30pm BST, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Villa have won four of their last six meetings against Man City (W4, L2).
• Man City are winless in their last four visits to Villa (D1, L3).
• Three of Villa’s last four meetings against City have ended in a 2-1 result – of which Villa won two of those three games to City’s one, whilst Villa won 1-0 at home last season in that period.
• Villa are yet to record a league win at home this season (D1, L2).
• Man City have conceded just one away goal in the league this season (W3), during which they scored eight goals themselves.

 

Prediction

Having comfortably dispatched Viking in midweek to continue their strong form, Villa now need to be at their best if they’re to extend their strong head-to-head form against City as this is winnable if they can bring their sharp clinical quality and defensive work of their last three games.

City meanwhile just don’t seem fazed at all by their financial cheating scandal but with Villa Park currently bit of a bogey ground for them lately, they will need to be at their best especially with a refreshed Erling Haaland but Villa are much tougher opponents than AEK Athens were.

I am therefore expecting a difficult game given the form of both teams and wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up as a draw.

Prediction: Aston Villa 2-2 Man City