Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE!
The race for Champions League qualification is the sole focus tonight as Manchester City and Aston Villa meet at the Etihad Stadium. With the top five in the Premier League all qualifying for Europe’s top table for the first time next season, the battle for those valuable spots has never been fiercer. Just three points separate Nottingham Forest in third and Villa in seventh.
It was a nightmare weekend for fourth-placed Newcastle, who were thumped by Villa as all their top-five rivals win, including Chelsea’s injury-time win at Fulham on Sunday and Forest withstanding a barrage from Tottenham last night. City won at Everton and now are looking to win three Premier League games on the bounce for the first time since October.
Villa scored four over Newcastle, just days after a gruelling loss on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, but will a third huge game in eight days be too much for Unai Emery’s squad? Changes are expected from both team, including a possible start for Marcus Rashford against his parent club’s rivals. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog.
Man City vs Aston Villa latest news
- GOAL! Rashford levels it up from the penalty spot
- GOAL! Martinez howler gifts Bernardo a goal
GOAL!
21:56 , Alex Young93min: This could be huge in the top-five race!
Nunes slots home at the back post after Doku gives Disasi the run around on the opposite flank!
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:53 , Alex Young91min: Five minutes added on.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:50 , Alex Young88min: Asensio sends it in, City head clear, Malen drills a shot straight at Ortega.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:49 , Alex Young87min: Villa win just their second corner of the game.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:48 , Alex Young85min: Watkins booked for a drag back on Dias. So unnecessary.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:45 , Alex Young83min: Now it’s Watkins’ turn to be offside.
NO GOAL!
21:43 , Alex Young80min: Marmoush thinks he has given City the lead after being slipped into the area by Gvardiol, but he’s a good yard offside.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:40 , Alex Young78min: Nunes is now booked for a reckless foul on McGinn. Two yellows apiece, now.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:37 , Alex Young76min: Villa also make changes. Watkins and Asensio are on for Rashford and Onana.
Emery wants to win this.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:36 , Alex Young74min: Marmoush with a rash swing of the leg, sending a shot well wide.
Doku is on for McAtee.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:35 , Alex Young73min: Was just about to type about there still being no City changes, but here comes Doku!
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:33 , Alex Young70min: Gvardiol finally booked after kicking Tielemans’ Achilles. It’s been coming for a while.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:30 , Alex Young68min: City with their ninth corner of the game, again Gvardiol meets De Bruyne’s cross and again it sails over.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:29 , Alex Young66min: O’Reilly drills a great ball into the area, McAtee looks certain to slot home from 10 yards but misses the ball completely!
Things are finally kicking into gear again.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:26 , Alex Young63min: Rashford runs through, rounds Ortega but with the angle really tight, he hits the near side netting.
It’s a chance, and the best one of the second half.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:24 , Alex Young62min: McGinn and Disasi are on for Ramsey and Cash.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:23 , Alex Young61min: So close from McAtee! City break from that free kick throuh De Bruyne, who finds the youngster with an outside-of-the-boot shot that bounces up and lets McAtee try to lob Martinez... but it lands two yards wide of the far post.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:22 , Alex Young60min: A complete waste of a free kick from Villa as Tielemans cannot even beat the one-man wall.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:21 , Alex Young59min: Gvardiol drags up Rogers for a clear foul. He can’t be too far off a booking. McGinn is warming up for Villa.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:20 , Alex Young58min: Three corners in a row for City, none of which come to anything of note.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:18 , Alex Young56min: De Bruyne does brilliantly to stand a cross up at the back post, but no City player gambles before O’Reilly shanks a volley wide.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:17 , Alex Young54min: Guardiola is cutting quite the frustrated figure on the touchline. Still irked by that penalty decision, you’d imagine.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:12 , Alex Young50min: Rogers into the book for a cynical trip on O’Reilly.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:11 , Alex Young49min: Marmoush is still not quite at the races.
He tries to wriggle through into some space near the Villa area before finding O’Reilly with a pass, but puts way too much spice on the ball to give away a goal kick.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
21:09 , Alex Young47min: Rogers feels he was fouled by Gvardiol as Villa launch their first attack of the half, but the referee isn’t interested. Looked soft.
Second half
21:07 , Alex Young46min: Here we go, again. No changes.
Second half coming up. Any changes?
There was a strange lack of urgency from both teams at times during that half. The crowd was hardly the most electric - is that affecting the players?
Rashford's penalty cancelled out Bernardo's opener, but it has not been the most impressive 45 minutes from either team.
A big second half to come.
Half-time
20:50 , Alex Young50min: There’s the whistle. Improvements needed.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:50 , Alex Young48min: Marmoush cannot get on the end of McAtee’s deep cross from out wide. The Egyptian is struggling with getting the right service so far.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:47 , Alex Young46min: Four minutes added on, somehow.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:46 , Alex Young45min: Quite tame, this.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:46 , Alex Young43min: Villa win a corner, which Onana meets but his header is going wide before hitting O’Reilly.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:41 , Alex Young39min: Rashford runs onto a great ball over the top from Digne, his first touch is good but cannot poke a finish past Ortega with his second.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:40 , Alex Young38min: Ah, the Etihad crowd has woken up, urging their side on as Villa try to slow things down. Nunes then boots the ball straight out of play.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:37 , Alex Young35min: First booking of the game is to Digne for a late lunge on De Bruyne. Looked a little soft, in fairness.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:36 , Alex Young34min: I can tell you that Martinez is in no rush to take these goal kicks.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:34 , Alex Young32min: Gvardiol gets under a corner and his header sails over.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:34 , Alex Young31min: It’s quite a tame atmosphere inside the stadium, with only the Villa fans being heard at the moment.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:30 , Alex Young28min: Ramsey tries to bring down a throw-in but catches Bernardo in the chest. A painful one, but no malice. VAR agree.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:28 , Alex Young26min: Lots and lots and lots of City passing, as we’ve come to expect over the years. Eventually Kovacic has a pop from 25 yards, but again easy for Martinez down low to his right.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:25 , Alex Young23min: Half a chance for City as De Bruyne gets his head on the end of a Marmoush cross, but it’s an easy one for Martinez.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:23 , Alex Young20min: Marmoush in called up for a foul near the Villa area. Frustrations already on show.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:20 , Alex Young18min: Guardiola is absolutely fuming on the touchline, but it is a quite clear penalty.
GOAL! Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
20:18 , Alex Young17min: Rashford makes no mistake from 12 yards!
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
20:18 , Alex Young16min: VAR has told the referee to go to the screen and look at that penalty incident! It’s Dias’ knee on Ramsey’s... and it’s a penalty!
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
20:17 , Alex Young15min: Rashford finally gets his foot on the ball again and storms into the City half before slipping Ramsey into the area... who then trips up.
Half-hearted calls for a penalty as play continues.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
20:16 , Alex Young13min: Tielemans took a Bernardo cross full force in the face a few moments ago. He’s fine now but, corr, that would have stung.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
20:14 , Alex Young11min: Villa cannot get out of their half at the moment.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
20:13 , Alex Young8min: Looking at the replays, that could go down as a Martinez own goal as he parries it against his own foot and into the net.
Anyway, City lead and Unai Emery is literally scratching his head.
GOAL!
20:09 , Alex Young7min: They almost went behind after 18 seconds, but are now in front!
Bernardo gets on the end of Marmoush’s shot, which is straight at Martinez but the goalkeeper cannot keep it out.
Bit of a howler, that.
Man City 0-0 Aston Villa
20:07 , Alex Young5min: Kamara tries to get the better of the City backline again, but this time Rashford isn’t on the same wavelength and the pass rolls through to Ortega.
Man City 0-0 Aston Villa
20:05 , Alex Young3min: City need to get their foot on the ball, calm things down already after that eye-opening start.
Man City 0-0 Aston Villa
20:03 , Alex Young1min: Oh my word, Rashford hits the post inside 20 seconds!
Great footwork from Rashford to send Dias this way and that, ducks into the area, beats Ortega but not the upright!
Kick-off!
20:01 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Lots of empty seats as the players walk out.
Aston Villa have not won a Premier League game at Manchester City since 2007.
A staggering record for two of the biggest clubs in the country.
Five minutes until kick-off.
Marcus Rashford needs to perform tonight. He has a good record against Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola to Sky Sports
19:43 , Alex Young"I decide [the team] and I wanted the quality of McAtee, so hopefully he can perform. We have five finals, here's the first one, at home. Let's go.
"The results have helped [confidence], we are playing for different targets than usual but the fight is there. Together we are stronger."
Fan protest
19:42 , Alex YoungAhead of the game, Manchester City supporters are protesting outside the ground over the need for more season tickets.
Tonight’s game is not a sell out, despite its importance. An adult ticket can still be purchased for a staggering £71.
Comparing run-ins
19:27Manchester City: Aston Villa (H); Wolves (H); Southampton (A); Bournemouth (H); Fulham (A)
Aston Villa: Manchester City (A); Fulham (H); Bournemouth (A); Tottenham (H); Manchester United (A)
A win tonight for either could be pivotal.
Unai Emery to Sky Sports
19:11“Being consistent in the Premier League is the most important, and today the demand on us will be so huge. It is a huge challenge for us, to win the duels, get confidence, get comfortable.”
“City have not been as consistent as the last few years, but are still contenders for the top four. There are still matches to play, it’s not a final, but it’s very important.
"They are the favourites, they are in a good moment and we are trying to get to our best. The last match you could see that, and hopefully tonight you will see it. We are motivated and very excited."
Ins and outs
19:02 , Alex YoungSo, McAtee gets the nod ahead of both Savinho and Doku while O’Reilly again keeps his place with Khusanov sticking on the bench with Foden.
Rashford, on loan from Manchester United of course, starts for Aston Villa as Watkins makes way. Asensio and McGinn are also on the bench, with Ramsey and Onana starting.
Confirmed team news in full
18:54 , Alex YoungMan City XI: Ortega; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly; Kovacic, Gundogan; McAtee, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Marmoush
Subs: Carson, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Akanji, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden, Lewis
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans, Onana; Rogers, Ramsey; Rashford
Subs: Olsen, Maatsen, Garcia, Disasi, McGinn, Barkley, Malen, Asensio, Watkins
Man City XI
18:50 , Alex Young...and the hosts!
Taking on Villa tonight! 😤🩵
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 22, 2025
XI | Ortega Moreno, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne (C), McAtee, Bernardo, Marmoush
SUBS | Carson, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Akanji, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/1RdqWHuY9J
Aston Villa XI
18:49 , Alex YoungHere’s how the visitors look.
Your Villa starting XI to face Man City 👊 #MCIAVL pic.twitter.com/TWpIN0SJcP
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 22, 2025
Team news is imminent.
The top-five race as it stands
18:38 , Alex YoungThis could go to the final day.
Latest match odds
18:32 , Alex YoungThe bookies are backing Man City to wrap up a big win tonight.
- Manchester City: 7/8
- Draw: 3/1
- Aston Villa: 13/5
(*Odds provided by Betway, subject to change.)
Unai Emery: We cannot stop
18:22 , Alex YoungUnai Emery will not let Aston Villa take their foot off the gas as they enter an important stretch of the season.
Villa travel to Manchester City on Tuesday night thick in the hunt for next year's European football places, with just five games remaining in their Premier League campaign.
Their thoughts then turn to Wembley and Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.
"We can't stop," Emery told Villa TV. "We are involved in our key moment in the season, and through the Premier League we are trying to get our first objective.
"(There are) matches played, and tomorrow is the 34th. Against Manchester City, one of the contenders to be in the top four, top five.
"(For them) to win the title this year is a little bit more difficult, but my respect for them is massive like always. We are ready. Everyone has to be so, so focused."
Pep Guardiola: Tonight is like a final for Man City
18:10 , Alex YoungPep Guardiola has urged Manchester City fans to bring the noise and treat their remaining five Premier League games as cup finals.
Guardiola's side sit fourth having recovered from an awful end to 2024, but they still have work to do in the fight for a Champions League spot, with five teams separated by just two points.
Asked if the game against Aston Villa was like a cup final, Guardiola said: "Absolutely. And after Aston Villa the game against Wolves will be a final, then Southampton because every game counts.
"But Villa are a contender to qualify for the Champions League and when you see the game they played against my friend Luis Enrique and PSG I was really impressed.
"They can play a low block but when they decide to go, with the weapons they have, the speed they have, the set-pieces, it's a final and we need our people because I think our people want the Champions League again next season and hopefully they can wait from minute one.
"Sometimes we are slow, sometimes we are not playing good, but we need them desperately to support us, to make noise and being there all the time because it's a final. Absolutely it is a final for us."
Man City vs Aston Villa prediction
17:58 , Alex YoungManchester City may not be much like the team of recent seasons past, but are now grinding out results and confidence is growing. Villa made easy work of Newcastle last time out and will be able to make changes, like City, for this game three days later.
However, they have not won a league game at City since 2007. It is a remarkable run of results, even taking into account a sole win in the League Cup across the last 18 years. It is a tough order to end that run this time out, but Villa can take points off any team.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
Early Aston Villa team news
17:51 , Alex YoungAston Villa will assess Pau Torres ahead of the game, after the defender was left out of the squad to face Newcastle. Otherwise, Unai Emery will be looking at refreshing his squad after a stunning win over Newcastle.
Ollie Watkins will be desperate to keep his place, but Marcus Rashford will have other ideas. Morgan Rogers seemingly never gets dropped, but Marco Asensio could make way as Leon Bailey returns from injury.
Early Man City team news
17:43 , Alex YoungPep Guardiola could be tempted to make changes in attack tonight.
Mateo Kovacic is set to make his 200th Premier League appearance, but Savinho and Bernardo Silva will be sweating over their starting spots as Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku push to return to the line-up.
Omar Marmoush should keep his spot, but Kevin De Bruyne may also be looking over his shoulder.
Further back. Stefan Ortega is expected to start again after Ederson again missed out over the weekend due to injury. Manuel Akanji made his return from injury with a late cameo off the bench, but is unlikely to be handed a start three days later.
Abdukodir Khusanov appears to have lost his starting spot despite an eye-catching start to life at City.
How to watch Man City vs Aston Villa
17:35 , Alex YoungTV channel: In the UK, tonight’s match is being shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Coverage of Monday Night Football begins at 7pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off in Manchester.
Live stream: Those with a Sky Sports subscription can also watch the game live online via the Sky Go app.
Welcome
17:29 , Alex YoungGood evening and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Aston Villa.
It’s another huge game in the race to qualify for the Champions League, with City and Villa both firmly in the mix to finish in the top five and both on impressive runs of form.
A defeat for either tonight will likely be a big dent in their own hopes of reaching Europe’s top table for another season. All the action at the Etihad kicks off at 8pm.
