Aymeric Laporte expected to be sidelined for a month with hamstring injury
Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Competition: Carabao Cup Final
Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 1st March, 2020
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
Referee: Lee Mason Assistants: I Hussin, H Lennard Fourth Official: D Coote
Odds: Villa 18/1, Draw 7/1, City 1/7
Tickets: On sale via tickets.mancity.com
TV: Sky Sports
Aston Villa
Manager: Dean Smith
Squad (from): Nyland, Reina, Sarkic, Tylor, El Mohamady, Guilbert, Targett, Hause, Mings, Ngoyo, Engels, Lansbury, Grealish, Hourihane, Jota, El Ghazi, Trezeguet, Luiz, Nakamba, Drinkwater, Davis, Vassilev, Samatta, Baston
Injured: Wesley, Heaton, McGinn, Davis, Steer
Doubtful: El Ghazi
Suspended: None
Form guide: WWLLL
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Squad (from): Bravo, Carson, Ederson, Cancelo, Garcia, Mendy, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Foden, Gundogan, Mahrez, Rodri, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Aguero, Jesus
Injured: Laporte, Sane
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Form guide: LLWWW
Aymeric Laporte is expected to be absent for up to a month after suffering a hamstring injury during the midweek win at Real Madrid. Leroy Sane, meanwhile, travelled with the under-23 squad to face Arsenal tonight as he steps up his recovery from a serious knee injury.
The Blues have comfortably beaten Villa in both Premier League games this season, but manager Pep Guardiola is expecting a difficult challenge from Dean Smith's side.
“They are organised, with a keeper with excellent experience in Pepe Reina.
“It was a good game when we went there in the league. We will prepare the game tactically, mentally, it is a big opportunity to do something special with our club.
“The result is in the past, we are focusing on the final. It is a different competition. They have won a Champions League and they have a fantastic history. It will be a fantastic game.
“But we want to fight for another trophy.”
City won their last game against Villa 6-1, courtesy of a Sergio Aguero hatrick and goal from Riyad Mahrez (2) and Gabriel Jesus. Overall City have won 74 of the 172 games played against the Villans, with 41 draws and 57 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Bravo, Cancelo, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Zinchenko, Rodri, D Silva, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Aguero
Score prediction: Aston Villa 1 City 3