Preview Manchester City vs Aston Villa, 3 Points Can't Be Lost

Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – Manchester City will try to return to winning ways when they host Aston Villa at the Etihad on Wednesday (3/4/2024).

Manchester City will enter this midweek match after two consecutive draws in the Premier League. These results mean the defending champions are stuck in third place in the 2023/2024 Premier League standings, three points behind leaders Liverpool with nine games remaining.

In the opposing camp, Aston Villa beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 last weekend. Unai Emery's troops are currently in fourth place in the standings, 5 points away from City and 2 points from Tottenham Hotspur in fifth position.

The last meeting between the two teams, Aston Villa narrowly won 1-0 over Manchester City, with Leon Bailey scoring the winning goal.

Entertaining Villa, City manager Pep Guardiola has a new injury problem which is disrupting his team's preparations. The Citizen has lost three core players.

Nathan Ake is the latest player to be absent, after the Dutch defender suffered an injury against Arsenal last weekend. Ake joins Ederson Moraes and Kyle Walker who have to be sidelined.

Stefan Ortega will replace the injured Ederson in goal, with Manchester City setting up a 4-2-3-1 formation up front against Aston Villa. Rico Lewis is likely to return to the team, starting at right-back with Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol completing City's back line.

Meanwhile, in midfield, Mateo Kovacic will partner Rodri in the double pivot, giving Kevin De Bruyne the freedom to explore the midfield. Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish will be the two wingers, with Erling Haaland leading the line for Manchester City.

In the opposing camp, Unai Emery also has new problems to face ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium. Villa may be without seven core players when they visit City headquarters.

Ollie Watkins is the latest player to be admitted to the treatment room, after suffering a hamstring injury last weekend against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The England international joins Matty Cash (thigh injury) in the treatment room, with Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia and Boubacar Kamara already ruled out.

John McGinn is serving suspension after his red card against Tottenham and will return to the squad this weekend against Brentford. Meanwhile, Jacob Ramsey's fitness is still in question.

Aston Villa will field a 4-4-2 formation against Manchester City, with Emiliano Martinez the option in goal. The back line should consist of Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne.

As for the midfield, Douglas Luiz and Youri Tielemans should maintain defense in the middle of the field, with Morgan Rogers and Leon Bailey on the wings. Moussa Diaby will continue his excellent form up front, with Jhon Duran replacing Ollie Watkins up front.

Forecast Lineup
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Doku, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Luiz, Tielemans, Rogers; Diaby, Duran