Aston Villa v Manchester City preview: Remi Garde takes charge of Villa for first game
Sunday 8 November 2015 13:27, UK
Basement club Aston Villa host Manchester City on Super Sunday looking for a first win since the opening day of the Premier League season.
City are back on form following a dip in late September, and are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions.
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They qualified from the Champions League group stage with two games to spare, and face a Villa side with new manager Remi Garde in charge for the first time.
The Frenchman has a job on his hands steering the Midlands club to survival, sitting bottom of the table with just four points out of a possible 33.
Team news
Micah Richards is available to face former club City. The defender missed Monday's defeat at Tottenham through suspension but could return with rock bottom Villa looking to end a run of seven straight league defeats on Sunday.
Gabby Agbonlahor came off at half time against Spurs with a tight calf while Ashley Westwood should recover after being hit in the face at White Hart Lane and Idrissa Gana and Adama Traore are expected to return after being rested.
Leaders Manchester City are still without playmaker David Silva. The 29-year-old, who has also not been included in the Spain squad for the upcoming friendlies against England and Belgium, has missed six games with an ankle injury but was thought to be close to returning.
Striker Sergio Aguero, midfielder Samir Nasri and defender Pablo Zabaleta are also still out but midfielder Fabian Delph could make the bench against his former club.
Opta stats
The Villans have failed to score in five of the last seven league meetings with the Citizens.
Manchester City have won seven and lost one of the last eight Premier League games against Aston Villa.
Aston Villa have lost five and won none of their last six Premier League games at Villa Park and failed to score in four of those games.
Man City have lost just one of their last seven Premier League away matches (W5 D1 L1), keeping five clean sheets in that run, although they are without a win in their last two on the road (D1 L1).
Man City have scored four goals in the 88th minute onwards in their last three Premier League meetings with Aston Villa.
Manchester City have allowed just 28 shots on target against them, fewer than any other team in the top flight this season.
Kevin De Bruyne has scored three and assisted four goals in his last six Premier League appearances.
Remi Garde will take charge of his first game as Aston Villa manager - he won his first league game in charge of Lyon (3-1 v Nice in August 2011).
Merson's prediction
To start with this is already a tough game for Villa, add that to the fact they're struggling and I can't see anything but a City win. Villa might probably keep it tight for a while but they are lacking the spark and City head into the game on the back of an unbelievable result against Sevilla. Garde has a lot of work to do and there are a lot of hard games in front of Villa. They could soon be cut adrift, that's the worrying thing.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)
Betting
Manchester City are just 4/9 with Sky Bet as Aston Villa go up against odds of 11/2 for the victory and 18/5 just to secure a draw. Manuel Pellegrini's men are currently 5/6 favourites for the title with Arsenal trailing them at 6/4, while Villa are 2/1 to avoid relegation. Wilfried Bony heads the first goalscorer betting at 100/30 while Rudy Gestede is considered the hosts' main threat at 9/1 to break the deadlock.
