Pep Guardiola has labeled the match a “final,” urging fans to create a vibrant atmosphere to inspire the team . City will be without key players Rodri, Rúben Dias, and Nathan Aké due to injuries . Villa, under Unai Emery, have been so consistent, recently smashing Newcastle 4-1 and aiming to complete a league double over City for the first time since 1962-63.
With both teams priority being qualifying for next season’s UCL, tonight’s match promises intensity and high stakes.
Since arriving from Frankfurt, Marmoush has been a consistent fouler. His recent count goes: 2,0,0,2,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,1. He should be matched against Konsa who draws 1.38p90. Matty Cash done the business for us against PSG and accounting for supersub, has fouled: 2,1,0,4,1,1,2,1,0,2,1,2,3. We never know with Pep roulette, but it looks likely he’ll be up against Savinho who draws 1.21p90, with great options off the bench in Doku and Grealish, drawing 2.08 and 3.33p90 respectively.
Happy to take higher lines for Cash here, given the potential opponents and his knack of fouling in bigger games. Nunes is City’s biggest fouler, fouling 1.51p90 and with a recent count of 0,1,2,2,3,3,0,2. He has a great potential match up in McGinn, Villa’s most fouled player - who is fouled 2.1p90 and goes down easier than a cold pint on a summers day. Morgan Rogers is having a great season, and in doing so is getting kicked about fairly often, 1.55p90 to be exact, including 2 in the reverse.
Both Villa selections landed in the reverse, Nunes didn’t start but Rico Lewis committed 2 from RB.