Perhaps a welcome break from league football as Aston Villa & Manchester City face off to decide who makes it to next stage of the Carabao Cup. All the pre-match information is available here!
There has not been much time to rest for the guests, as they played a Champions League game only four days ago. That game was also an away game, at Real Madrid. It will be interesting to see if they are fully ready and rested for this match, and/or if some changes in the lineup is necessary.
Aston Villa form and stats
Aston Villa was eliminated in the 2nd round last season in the Carabao Cup.5-2-6 (win-draw-lost) are the Premier League numbers at home for Aston Villa so far this season. 5W-1D-0L is the hard facts regardless of venue in the Carabao Cup for Aston Villa. With three straight defeats the pressure is piling up on Aston Villa to get some points in this home game.
In their previous game, the manager D. Smith led his Aston Villa to a defeat in the Premier League match away at Southampton. The manager is hoping to put things right immediately here at Wembley Stadium. Preceding that match was the home Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur that was lost 2-3.
Pepe Reina had a busy but productive day in the Southampton match. Despite making seven saves the loss could not be prevented.
Despite playing at their own arena the home team are massive underdogs in this game. The home fans will enjoy their drinks and snacks knowing that the chances of a positive outcome are very slim. When Aston Villa have been in this position before, they have won zero, drawn zero and lost one from one game. one defeat by at least two goals.
Aston Villa has scored 18 league goals at home this season, in 13 matches. Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 24 goals have been conceded.
Manchester City form and stats
Nothing but glory last season for Manchester City, as they won the Carabao Cup.Manchester City's travelling support has been rewarded for their time and money so far this season, having witnessed Manchester City collect 28 points from their 14 away matches in the Premier League. 9 victories and 1 draw have created these points (and only 4 defeats). Total Carabao Cup statistics for Manchester City: 4 wins, 0 draws and 1 loss.
The Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Andres Bravo Munoz is collecting clean sheets like a laundry worker. It's been 199 league minutes without conceding a goal, and counting.
Manchester City play their second away game in a row, but can be confident going into this one after the 2-1 victory visiting Real Madrid. Before that one, a nice away victory 1-0 at Leicester City.
As mentioned earlier, Manchester City will not be satisfied unless they get a comfortable victory in this game. Performing as huge favourites away from home has earlier resulted in 20 wins (15 by two or more goals winning margin), one draw and three surprising defeats.
The visitors will be packing their bags again in only three days as another away game awaits: The FA Cup trip to Sheffield Wednesday.
Today's guests are confident travelers having scored 35 goals in 14 league games away this season. 17 goals have been conceded by Manchester City in these games.
Head 2 Head
Last ten meetings between the teams: Aston Villa won one, Manchester City won eight and one draw. seven games with over 2,5 goals, three matches with two goals or less.Top Goalscorers
  S. Agüero del Castillo 16 goals |  R. Sterling 11 goals |  G. de Jesus 10 goals |
Aston Villa missing players
Manchester City missing players
| Aston Villa | Manchester City | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 14 | 25 | ||
| 9 | 7 | Won | W | 9 | 16 | ||
| 3 | 0 | Drew | D | 2 | 4 | ||
| 13 | 5 | Lost | L | 3 | 5 | ||
| 37 | 22 | Scored | S | 33 | 56 | ||
| 46 | 22 | Conceded | C | 17 | 27 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 96% | 92% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 86% | 88% | ||
| 76% | 83% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 71% | 68% | ||
| 28% | 42% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 57% | 48% | ||
| 20% | 33% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 29% | 20% | ||
| 72% | 75% | BTTS | BTTS | 71% | 68% | ||
| 12% | 25% | Clean Sheets | C S | 21% | 24% | ||
| 16% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 7% | 8% | ||
| 5.4 | 6.2 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 6.2 | 7.2 | ||
| 6.4 | 5.7 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 3.1 | 2.7 | ||
| 2 | 1.8 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.8 | 1.4 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 3 | 3 | ||
| 313 | 178 | Total Shots | T S | 221 | 427 | ||
| 102 | 51 | Shots on Target | S O | 80 | 151 | ||
| 36% | 43% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 41% | 37% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Liverpool | 28 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 64 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 9 | 44 | 79 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 27 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 68 | 29 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 17 | 39 | 57 |
| 3 | Leicester City | 28 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 54 | 28 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 13 | 26 | 50 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 47 | 39 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 24 | 8 | 45 |
| 5 | Manchester United | 27 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 41 | 29 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 12 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 17 | 12 | 41 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 27 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 44 | 36 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 24 | 8 | 40 |
| 7 | Sheffield United | 27 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 29 | 25 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 40 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 27 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 38 | 32 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 17 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 39 |
| 9 | Burnley | 28 | 11 | 5 | 12 | 33 | 39 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 21 | -6 | 38 |
| 10 | Arsenal | 27 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 39 | 36 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 16 | 3 | 37 |
| 11 | Everton | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 36 | 41 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 27 | -5 | 36 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 25 | 32 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 19 | -7 | 36 |
| 13 | Southampton | 28 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 35 | 51 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 30 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 21 | -16 | 34 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 24 | 41 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 29 | -17 | 32 |
| 15 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 28 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 32 | 40 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 25 | -8 | 28 |
| 16 | West Ham United | 28 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 35 | 49 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 26 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 23 | -14 | 27 |
| 17 | Watford | 28 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 27 | 43 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 26 | -16 | 27 |
| 18 | AFC Bournemouth | 28 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 28 | 45 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 24 | -17 | 27 |
| 19 | Aston Villa | 27 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 34 | 52 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 28 | -18 | 25 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 28 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 51 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 25 | -26 | 21 |
- Aston Villa
- Birmingham Mail - (local newspaper)
- Manchester City FC
- Manchester Evening News - (local newspaper)