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Manchester City logo
Premier League | Gameweek 31
Apr 3, 2024 at 8.15pm UK
Etihad Stadium
Aston Villa logo

Man City
4 - 1
Aston Villa

Rodri (11'), Foden (45+1', 62', 69')
Grealish (32')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Duran (20')
Luiz (38'), Chambers (90+4')

Team News: Manchester City's Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne both benched for Aston Villa clash

Team News: Man City's Haaland, De Bruyne both benched for Aston Villa clash
© Reuters
Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne are named on the substitutes' bench for this evening's Premier League clash against Aston Villa.

Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne have been named on the substitutes' bench for this evening's Premier League clash against Aston Villa.

De Bruyne – who is one game away from making his 250th Premier League appearance for Man City – returned to the Citizens' XI for the 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Easter Sunday after recovering from a groin injury, while Haaland has started each of the last eight top-flight matches.

However, Pep Guardiola has decided to omit the attacking pair from his starting lineup against Villa and has made a total of four changes, with Mateo Kovacic and the injured Nathan Ake also making way.

In the absence of injured goalkeeper Ederson, Stefan Ortega continues between the sticks, while Rico Lewis is handed a start at right-back, joining Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in a four-man defence.

Bernardo Silva is set to move into a central position to partner Rodri in midfield, as both Jeremy Doku and ex-Villa man Jack Grealish have been recalled to start on the flanks.

Phil Foden is therefore expected to operate in the number 10 role, while Julian Alvarez leads the line in the absence of Haaland.

As for Aston Villa, Unai Emery has made six alterations to the lineup that began the 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, with Clement Lenglet, Lucas Digne, Nicolo Zaniolo, Jhon Duran and Tim Iroegbunam all coming into the team – the latter is handed just his second Premier League start and first of the season.

Emiliano Martinez also misses out due to illness, with Robin Olsen starting in his place. Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos are joined in defence by Lenglet and Digne, who are handed starts at the expense of Pau Torres and Alex Moreno, who drop to the bench.

Iroegbunam will link arms with ex-Man City man Douglas Luiz in centre-midfield as Zaniolo and Morgan Rogers operate out wide

Moussa Diaby, who has been involved in four goals (one goal, three assists) in his last four Premier League appearances, is joined in attack by Duran, who replaces injured top scorer Ollie Watkins.

Leon Bailey, who scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Man City in the reverse fixture four months ago, is among the Villa replacements.

Manchester City: Ortega; Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Rodri, Bernardo; Doku, Foden, Grealish; Alvarez

Subs: Carson, Stones, Kovacic, Haaland, De Bruyne, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Susoho

Aston Villa: Olsen; Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Digne; Zaniolo, Iroegbunam, Luiz, Rogers; Diaby; Duran

Subs: Gauci, Chambers, Torres, Moreno, Bailey, Kesler-Hayden, Tielemans, Kellyman

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


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