Manchester City and Aston Villa go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Tuesday night in a crucial encounter in the race for Champions League qualification.
With five clubs being granted a berth in Europe's top-tier competition, the task has become slightly more forgiving, but no less intense, heading into the final straight.
Match preview
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Following Saturday's action, Man City and Villa had positioned themselves perfectly to ensure Champions League qualification again next season.
City closed the gap on third-placed Newcastle United by winning 2-0 away to Everton thanks to late goals from Nico O'Reilly and Mateo Kovacic, while Villa did Pep Guardiola's men a favour by beating the Magpies in the day's late kickoff.
Guardiola has now seen his side collect 10 points from four matches, keeping three clean sheets in that time, with recent defensive solidity proving to be the key factor in their upsurge in form.
City have conceded 21 goals at home this season, their joint-worst tally since the 2003-04 campaign with three games still to play, so maintaining this recent good form at the back will be vital to their Champions League hopes.
Only Liverpool and Real Madrid have won at the Etihad in 2025, and City will fancy their chances of keeping that list of clubs short after this clash with a side who they have a brilliant home record against.
The hosts have won 14 straight games against Villa at the Etihad, with that being the second-longest such run in Premier League history, with City also holding the best - 16 straight wins versus Newcastle.
Not since the pre-takeover days under Stuart Pearce have City suffered defeat on home soil to Villa, with that loss coming all the way back in 2007.
However, City's fragility and Villa's supreme form could see that change, especially considering Unai Emery's side have won two of their last three matches against the reigning champions, as many as they had managed in the 23 games prior.
A 2-0 win in the reverse fixture back in December also gives the visiting side the opportunity to complete a league double over City for the first time since the 1962-63 campaign.
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Emery's men could not enter the fixture in better shape either, on the back of a thumping 4-1 win over Newcastle at Villa Park on Saturday.
It was a closely-fought affair up until the hour mark, but Villa soon blew the Magpies away with three quick-fire goals, moving them to within two points of Newcastle, and just one behind City, ahead of this trip to the Etihad.
A defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final is the only game Villa have failed to win across their last 11, in a sensational run that looks likely to end in their return to that competition next season.
Three straight away wins in the Premier League is Villa's best such run for over 16 years, and they have managed it without conceding a single goal, meaning they have the opportunity to win four in a row away, all accompanied with clean sheets, for the first time in their top-flight history.
However, Villa's form against the top clubs on the road has not been ideal, with just one point taken from five matches so far this season.
Team News
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City midfielder Kovacic is set to make his 200th Premier League appearance here, and the Croatian should be granted a start, following the huge impact he made at Goodison Park on Saturday, scoring the clinching goal.
Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji were both back on the bench away to Everton, and could even start here, but Ederson is a new casualty, missing that trip down the M62 with a groin injury.
Rodri and Nathan Ake are unlikely to play again this season, while Erling Haaland and John Stones should, but they will not be seen until May at the earliest.
Villa have just one injury worry, and it concerns Pau Torres, who was left out of the squad at the weekend with a minor issue.
Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey are both back from injury, even though the latter was also not part of the matchday squad on Saturday, while Marcus Rashford could return to the starting XI on his return to Manchester.
After scoring the opening goal at the weekend, Ollie Watkins moved level with Gabby Agbonlahor at the top of Villa's Premier League goalscoring charts with 74, and he was unfortunate to add to it, striking the woodwork twice.
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Kovacic, De Bruyne; McAtee, Foden, Doku; Marmoush
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Rashford; Watkins
We say: Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa
While still not looking back to their very best, City are picking up results on a regular basis against clubs that have been in good form recently, and they will feel confident in repeating the feat against this tricky Villa side here.
This is Villa's best chance yet to end their dreadful run at the Etihad, but they have flattered to deceive against fellow Champions League-chasing clubs this season, and could fall short again.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
