In the quest to regain their winning form in the Premier League, Manchester City made a strategic move by benching Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne. The team, led by manager Pep Guardiola, aims to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive top-flight title. However, recent weeks have seen them struggle to gain an upper hand against their top-table rivals.
Before the international break, City played to a 1-1 draw against Liverpool, and last Sunday, they were held to a goalless stalemate by Arsenal, leaving them in third place, trailing the summit by three points.
Their opponent, Aston Villa, holds the distinction of being the last team to defeat City across all competitions. In their previous encounter at Villa Park in December, Villa secured a 1-0 victory. A repeat performance would bring them within striking distance, just two points behind City, as they vie for a coveted spot in the Champions League.