Date of Tips: 21/10/2025
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct at the time of publishing (12:08 21/10/2025) but may have changed since. Please check the latest price before placing your bet.
Aston Villa FC
v Manchester City FC 
Villa Park
Premier League Matchday 9 
26-10-2025 14:00
Aston Villa Form
Man City Form
Date: Sunday, 26 October 2025
Kick-off time: 14:00 BST
Venue: Villa Park
Aston Villa will host Manchester City at Villa Park, and honestly, this might be one of the most intriguing fixtures of the month. Villa are buzzing after that comeback win at Spurs, while City just keep rolling through teams like they always do.
Villa have found some serious rhythm lately, unbeaten in their last five and finally starting to look like Unai Emery’s men again. City, meanwhile, are in that typical ruthless mode — Erling Haaland’s banging them in for fun, and Pep’s side have won three on the bounce.
So, what happens when a resurgent Villa meet the Premier League’s most consistent team? Let’s dig in.
Let’s start with Villa. They’re still without Youri Tielemans, who’s sidelined with a calf injury, and there’s a bit of concern around Tyrone Mings, who’s nursing an ankle issue. Other than that, Emery’s got his main men ready.
Villa’s strength right now is balance — Emiliano Martínez in goal, Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres forming a solid centre-back duo, and Lucas Digne flying up the flank. Midfielders Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana bring bite, while Morgan Rogers and John McGinn add creativity and drive.
Over in the blue corner, City have a few knocks of their own. Rayan Cherki is out with a thigh problem, while Rodri, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Abdukodir Khusanov are doubts. Even so, Pep’s got more than enough firepower.
You can expect Erling Haaland to lead the line, supported by the ever-electric Phil Foden, Jérémy Doku, and Nico González. Behind them, Tijjani Reijnders keeps things ticking, while Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké anchor a sturdy backline.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1):
Martínez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Guessand, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
Manchester City (4-1-4-1):
Donnarumma (GK); Nunes, Dias, Aké, O’Reilly; González; Savinho, Reijnders, Foden, Doku; Haaland
Looks pretty even on paper, right? Villa will likely sit a bit deeper, soak up pressure, and look to hit City on the break through Watkins and Rogers. City, as always, will aim to control possession and pull Villa’s defensive shape apart.
Here’s what I think… this game’s going to be tighter than most people expect. Villa’s confidence is growing, and their home form’s strong — two wins in their last two at Villa Park. They’ve scored five and conceded five in four home league games this season, so you can bet there’ll be goals.
But then there’s City. They’ve been clinical away from home, averaging 1.8 goals per game while conceding less than one. Haaland’s already on 11 league goals — scary stuff. If he gets even half a chance, you know what happens next.
Betting angles worth considering:
Villa can definitely land a punch, but City’s attacking quality should edge it.
Villa will make life tough — they’ve shown they can mix it with the top teams. But City just have that knack for finding a way through. You’ll probably see Villa defend deep, stay compact, and look to spring forward with Rogers or McGinn leading counters.
Still, City’s control of midfield through González and Reijnders should give them the upper hand. Once they get into rhythm, it’s hard to stop them.
Match Prediction: Man City to win. Bet with bet365.
I’m going for a 2-1 Manchester City win. Villa have enough attacking spark to get one — maybe Watkins or Rogers finds the net — but Haaland’s form is unreal right now. Two from him wouldn’t surprise anyone.
Correct Score Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester City. Bet with bet365.
If you like goal markets, this one looks good for the overs. City’s last five have all featured at least two goals, and Villa’s open style at home usually keeps things lively.
Over 2.5 goals feels like a safe shout, but if you’re feeling bold, over 3.5 could be where the value is — especially if Villa score first and open things up.
Over/Under Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals. Bet with bet365.
Here’s a Bet Builder combo I like for Sunday afternoon:
That covers everything — a tight but entertaining game, a Villa goal to keep it interesting, and the big man up front doing what he does best.
Bet Builder Tip: City to Win, BTTS Yes, Haaland Anytime. Bet with bet365.
Key Stats
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Visit our football previews & predictions page for more betting tips on upcoming matches.
Manchester City are favourites to win, thanks to their consistency and attacking firepower. But Villa’s home form means it won’t be easy.
Our prediction is a 2-1 win for Manchester City.
Erling Haaland looks the obvious choice — he’s already on 11 goals this season. Don’t rule out Watkins or Rogers for Villa though.
The match kicks off at 14:00 BST on Sunday, 26 October 2025, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
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