Key occasions
17 min: Metropolis have calmed down a bit since that opening aim … and simply as I kind that they explode ahead, with Grealish wanting notably spectacular down the left-hand facet.
14 min: Out of nowhere Villa threaten, with Douglas Luiz taking part in a beautiful lofted ball into the field, which Durán watches fastidiously earlier than volleying first time … Ortega pulls off a positive low save. Looks like the Villa ahead was offside anyway.
13 min: Digne launches an extended throw into the Metropolis field, and it’s flicked on … however there’s no harm achieved.
VAR has a have a look at whether or not Doku’s offside – he ain’t. The aim stands and this already has the texture of an extended night for Villa.
GOAL! Manchester Metropolis 1-0 Aston Villa (Rodri 11)
All of the motion is within the Villa half, and the stress tells. Foden slides in Doku on the correct, who crosses the ball low into the field for Rodri to fulfill and smash previous Olsen.
10 min: Rodri tries his luck along with his left foot from the sting of the field, however he’s off stability as he hits it and doesn’t correctly threaten Olsen.
9 min: There’s a little bit of pinball within the Villa field however Metropolis are unable to get a shot off.
8 min: Foden and Álvarez stand over it … the previous whips it in to the field and Olsen collects it with authority.
7 min: The electrical Doku goes down on the right-hand facet to win Metropolis a free-kick.
6 min: Durán clashes heads and is down for a bit, however worry not Villa followers – he’s again up once more and able to preserve taking part in.
4 min: Lewis tries to slip in Foden nevertheless it’s simply out of the specified attain of Metropolis’s No 47.
2 min: Douglas Luiz’s ball in is first rate however handled. Grealish, towards his former membership, cuts in from the left and chips in a beautiful ball into the field for Álvarez to hop on to, and he smashes the ball into the side-netting from a decent angle. A wise run from the Metropolis striker.
1 min: Digne pops a ball down the road for Zaniolo to chase on to and his cross is blocked out for a nook.
Peep!
Off we go, with Villa kicking off. Let’s play!
“Villa fan right here in Philadelphia!” writes Tim Hyland. “Have been supporting them since ‘08-09. This has been a dream of a season. Unusual lineup right this moment, and although I get it, this seems an terrible lot like kinda perhaps hoping for some extent however not even anticipating that a lot.”
Ah, 08/09, the times of Martin Laursen, Ashley Younger, Gareth Barry and co. Take pleasure in, Tim.
“Regardless of the Pep speak, Haaland’s drop to the bench certainly confirms what Roy Keane should have had insider information about: Poor Erling shall be an Accrington Stanley participant by the beginning of subsequent season!,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “Truly, methinks Mr. Keane remains to be extracting his vengeance on Pere Alfie with such slurs on the son. With out the unhealthy language of outdated, not less than, so he’s mellowing.”
Anywho, right here’s considered one of my fave Keane clips. Why would you let the cellphone ring out? Roy’s proper.
Michael Butler’s watching Arsenal-Luton by the way in which. Martin Odegaard’s opened the scoring, which amps up the stress on Metropolis.
A reminder, too, that Villa are with out the injured Ollie Watkins, who has 16 targets within the league this season. The person tasked with filling his house is Jhon Durán, this simply his second begin within the Premier League.
Martínez dominated out with sickness
Ooops. One other loss for Aston Villa, with their star goalkeeper Emi Martínez dominated out on account of sickness. In comes Sweden’s Robin Olsen.
Loads of adjustments for each side then: Aké, Kovacic, De Bruyne and Haaland drop out of Metropolis’s XI. For Villa, Watkins, Moreno, Torres, Tielemans and Bailey are lacking from the lineup that began within the win over Wolves.
The groups
Erling Haaland drops to the bench!
Man Metropolis: Ortega, Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Rodri, Silva, Doku, Foden, Grealish, Álvarez
Subs: Stones, Kovacic, Haaland, De Bruyne, Gómez, Matheus Nunes, Carson, Bobb, Susoho
Aston Villa: Martínez, Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Digne, Zaniolo, Iroegbunam, Luiz, Rogers, Diaby, Durán
Subs: Tielemans, Torres, Moreno, Chambers, Gauci, Olsen, Kesler-Hayden, Bailey, Kellyman
Right here’s some pre-game chit-chat, with Pep Guardiola bigging up his star ahead after Roy Keane used these two dreaded phrases: League Two.
Talking of Aston Villa’s earlier visits to the Etihad, bear in mind this? Insanity.
Preamble
Hi there, good day, good day and welcome to protection of Aston Villa’s journey to the Etihad Stadium. It’s a battle between third and fourth, although each side have completely different priorities: Manchester Metropolis are nonetheless in there for a shot at an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title; the guests wish to prolong their hole with Tottenham and arrange Champions League soccer for subsequent season.
It’s value wanting again on the reverse fixture between the 2 sides in December, when Leon Bailey scored the one aim to put Metropolis in a uncommon disaster: the defeat at Villa Park was their fourth league recreation in a row and not using a win. That proved to be a turning level, with the champions unbeaten since, their immaculate run protecting the prospect of a double treble nonetheless alive.
Villa are up towards it, lacking the specter of Ollie Watkins on account of a hamstring harm, and with not a lot to reminisce about in these components; they haven’t gained a league recreation on the Etihad since 2007, when John Carew and Shaun Maloney scored in a 2-0 victory. Right here’s Carew’s IMDB web page if you happen to’re questioning no matter occurred to him.
Ship me your ideas, queries, e book suggestions, darkest secrets and techniques, favorite Carew efficiency (solely appearing ones, please), no matter you fancy! Kick-off’s at 8.15pm BST.