Barclays Premier League preview: Manchester City Vs. Aston Villa
Venue: Stadium of Light
Average attendance: 49,000
City looking to go top
Roberto Mancini’s outfit are currently third in the league with 35 points from 19 games. As things stand, a victory on the night will see the Eastlanders go atop the League rankings, at least for the time being. Manchester City have played one more match
than second placed Arsenal – who are level on points – while Manchester United are two points clear with two games in hand.
City will have to be weary of their poor home record when they welcome Aston Villa to the Stadium of Light. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mancini-c23323’s men have registered only two wins in their last six home games. Surprisingly, City have the best away record in the league; the away statistics
read 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.
With Carlos Tevez slowly rediscovering his best form, and David Silva looking every inch the player City paid 30 million pounds for, Roberto Mancini will be optimistic of registering a victory tonight.
Houllier must perform
Owing much to woeful recent form, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gerard-c14664 Houllier is already under immense pressure to perform with the Villa. In past seasons Villa were a respectable side who challenged for European honours, but all that has changed this season.
Aston Villa are currently languishing in 15th place in the league with 20 points from 18 games. Villa have little room for optimism as according to their away statistics the club is 19th in
the league, with just a solitary win, a draw and six losses.
Villa have conceded 20 goals in eight away games, and Houllier will need to address their defensive woes if his side are to climb up the league ladder.
Team News
Manchester City
Full-back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kolo-c21278 Toure will return
to first team action after serving his one match suspension.
Aston Villa
Stilian Petrov and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ashley-Young-c6813 will not be available for selection after
they failed to recover in time for the trip to Manchester.
Key Players
Carlos Tevez
The Tevez-homesick-and-wanting-away saga seems to have settled down finally. The Argentine returned to scoring ways at the weekend with a brace against Newcastle United, and the club captain will want to win over the fans at the earliest. A repeat of the
weekend’s performance will go a long way in achieving just that.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Brad-Friedel-c7953
With the Villa defence in such disarray, Friedel will have to perform beyond his abilities in order to keep a majestic City attack at bay. The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 custodian is capable of producing some stunning saves. The Villa faithful will be praying for
some inspired goalkeeping on the night.
Prediction
It’s a battle of poor and the poorer this one. City have struggled in front of their fans, while Villa have been woeful on their travels. However Mancini’s men should be able to show their superior quality at the end of 90 minutes. It should end Manchester
City 3 – Aston Villa 0.
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