Aston Villa v Manchester City: squad sheets

Aston Villa v Manchester City: squad sheets:

By the time this fixture begins Manchester City are likely to once again find themselves 15 points behind Manchester United. The chase is a taxing one but if last week's 2-0 victory against Chelsea is anything to go by, Roberto Mancini's side appear to have refound the battling qualities that made them champions. Their defence is sure to be tested by Christian Benteke, the spearhead of an Aston Villa side that remains in relegation trouble but can take heart from how they performed in the recent 2-1 defeat at Arsenal. Sachin Nakrani
Venue Villa Park, Monday 8pm
Tickets £25-45 (0800 612 0970)
Last season Aston Villa 0 Man City 1
Referee Mike Dean
This season's matches 18 Y66, R3, 3.83 cards per game
Odds Aston Villa 6-1 Man City 8-15 Draw 11-3

Aston Villa

Subs from Given, Ireland, El Ahmadi, Bent, Holman, Sylla, Bowery, Dawkins, Bannan, Bennett, Stevens, Lichaj, Herd
Doubtful Bent (foot), Herd (ankle), Vlaar (calf)
Injured Albrighton (foot, Apr), Gardner (knee, Aug), Dunne (groin, unknown), Petrov (leukaemia, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide LWDLDL
Disciplinary record Y57 R2
Leading scorer Benteke 11

Manchester City

Subs from Pantilimon, Kolarov, Sinclair, Razak, Lescott, Nasri, Rodwell, Kompany, Maicon, Guidetti, García, Guidetti
Doubtful Kompany (calf)
Injured Richards (ankle, 16 Mar)
Suspended None
Form guide WLDDWW
Disciplinary record Y45 R3
Leading scorer Dzeko 12

Match pointers

• Villa have scored 999 goals in the Premier League and could become the eighth club (after Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Everton) to reach 1,000
• City have lost on just three of their past 16 visits to Villa Park in all competitions
• Villa have more league games in March (35) than any other side in the history of the Premier League
• This season, City have won 69% of games with Matija Nastasic in the side (11 of 16) and only 45% of those he has missed (five of 11)
• Villa are the only side to have wasted a two-goal lead on three seperate occasions this season

• Aston Villa
• Manchester City
• Premier League

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