Portuguese out for month after sustaining muscular injury in derby defeat
Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Competition: F.A. Premier League
Date: 12.30pm, Saturday 21st December 2024
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
Referee: Peter Bankes Assistants: E Smart, N Greenhalgh Fourth Official: A Madley VAR: D England
Odds: Villa 23/10, Draw 11/4, City 11/10
Tickets: Sold out
TV: TNT Sports
Aston Villa
Manager: Unai Emery
Squad (from): Gauci, Martinez, Olsen, Cash, Carlo, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Barkley, McGinn, Tielemans, Buendia, Onana, Bailey, Kamara, Duran, Watkins, Philogene, Rogers
Injured: Ramsey
Doubtful: Mings, Bailey
Suspended: None
Form guide: LWWWL
Manchester City
Manager: Pep Guardiola
0Squad (from): Ederson, Ortega, Carson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Gvardiol, Akanji, Simpson-Pusey, Lewis, Kovacic, Grealish, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Silva, Nunes, Foden, Wright, McAtee, Haaland, Doku, Savinho
Injured: Rodri, Bobb, Ake
Doubtful: Akanji, Stones
Suspended: None
Form guide: LLDWL
Ruben
“Ruben is out for a long time and Ederson I don’t know if he will be ready tomorrow,” Guardiola said at Friday's press conference.
“Manuel and John are back in training,” he added.
“That is good for us. As many players that are back the better.
“I don’t know yet [if they can start against Aston Villa]. Yesterday was their first training session, I would say, properly. They have been out for a while.”
City lost their last game at Villa Park 1-0, with Leon Bailey scoring for the hosts. Overall City have won 81 of the 181 games played against the Villains, with 42 draws and 58 defeats.
Predicted line-up: Ortega, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Score prediction: Villa 2 City 1