Man City vs Aston Villa Preview, Teams, Betting Tips + Prediction

Manchester City will look to move two points clear at the top of the table when they take on Aston Villa at the Etihad tonight.

The Citizens were handed a major boost when title-rivals Liverpool let slip a three-goal advantage to draw 3-3 with Crystal Palace on Monday night, meaning City can go two points clear with a win tonight heading into the final day of the season.

Manuel Pellegrini knows home victories over Aston Villa and West Ham will seal the title and make it a hugely successful debut season at the club, having already lifted the Capital One Cup back in February.

However, failure to secure three points this evening is going to make it a hugely nervy final game against the Hammers and hand the initiative back to Liverpool, who face Newcastle in their final game on Sunday.

Villa ensured their survival with a 3-1 win over Hull City last weekend to move them five points clear of the relegation zone, but Paul Lambert will be keen not to let their concentration fade and will want to end the season on a high note.

Confirmed Line-Ups

Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Garcia, Yaya Toure; Milner, Silva, Nasri; Dzeko

Aston Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Baker, Bertrand, Westwood, Delph, El Ahmadi, Weimann, Bowery

Betting Tips

Villa have a poor recent record away at City, having lost their last six league games and conceding 19 goals in the process, but a 3-2 win in the reverse fixture at Villa Park earlier in the season should give the visitors some confidence they can pull off a shock.

All the pressure is on City to deliver while Villa can play with freedom and they can be a dangerous side on the break. However, without the threat of Benteke or Agbonlahor, we can’t see how Villa are really going to threaten the hosts this evening so a home win is a safe bet.

City are the heavy favourites to win tonight and finding value in the market is going to be tricky, so make sure you do your research over at http://www.bestbettingsites.co to find the best bookmakers to gamble at and where to find the most appealing bonuses.

Bet365 currently offer City to win 3-0 at odds of 15/2 which might be worth a punt, while you can get 10/1 on 4-0 if you think the hosts are really going to put their foot down. If you like handicap betting they are also offering 11/10 on City -2.

Edin Dzeko has been in excellent form of late, scoring 7 in his last 10, so he’s a decent bet at 10/3 to be the first goalscorer this evening.

Prediction

Villa’s lack of firepower and City’s need to get the win should see a relatively comfortable home victory here. If they get an early goal the flood gates could open and I’d go with a 3-0 win to see Pellegrini’s men take a huge step towards the title.