Manchester City vs Aston Villa Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips 03/04/2024

Odds via Tonybet

Manchester City vs Aston Villa	April 3, 2024, 3:30 PM ET
Manchester City odds	-373
Aston Villa odds	+780
Draw	+520
Over\Under	3.5 +102/ -121

Manchester City vs Aston Villa. Shape of the Teams

Manchester City’s dull 0-0 draw at the Etihad against Arsenal has sparked widespread discussion among fans about whether Arsenal’s approach was acceptable and Manchester City’s reliance on Haaland and Foden.

It is true that, to some extent, overcoming a staunchly defended low block was a difficult challenge for the Citizens. Even Pep Guardiola himself admitted that the team struggled to penetrate Arsenal’s defence.

Until Doku came onto the pitch, the Cityzens created just a few chances. Some critics mentioned Haaland’s form being problematic, with Roy Keane claiming Haaland is nothing more than a League One player if it weren’t for his exceptional finishing skills.

Straight back to it! 👊 pic.twitter.com/sEdTEyY1Gr
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 1, 2024

Despite this, Manchester City have kept their unbeaten record intact. However, Aston Villa is one of the few teams to have clinched a victory against City this season.

Aston Villa’s trajectory might not be at City’s level but nonetheless remains respectable. Besides the 4-0 defeat against Tottenham, the Villans have a good record in recent months, secruring three victories and a draw in the last five games.

Emery: “We have had a lot of bad circumstances with injured players, but we are always trying to be positive.
“The players in the squad are there because we believe [in them], and we believe in our capacity to respond.” pic.twitter.com/T7iR9O71Sn
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 2, 2024

Believe it or not, Aston Villa is only five points behind Manchester City. Last time, they won 1-0 on their own ground, but it should be a different story at the Etihad.

Manchester City vs Aston Villa Main Match Info

Date and Kickoff Time: Wednesday, April 3, 3:30 PM ET
Stadium: Etihad
Location: Manchester, England
Last match: Aston Villa – Manchester City: 1-0 (December 6, 2023, PL)

Manchester City vs Aston Villa, Prediction, Odds

Pick: Manchester City to win
Odds: -373 (Tonybet)

Though low blocks are Pep Guardiola’s weakness, we can expect Jeremy Doku in a starting role for the upcoming match. As a substitute, he was a major factor in changing City’s dynamics against Arsenal. Doku’s dynamism and ability to exploit one-on-one situations could provide the spark City missed in their static attack against Arsenal.

A lot has changed since their last encounter in December 2023, which Aston Villa won with a narrow 1-0 victory. This game took place during Pep’s “low-season,” when City often drops points. Since then, the Citizens have adapted to overcome their previous shortcomings.

Emery: “We have had a lot of bad circumstances with injured players, but we are always trying to be positive.
“The players in the squad are there because we believe [in them], and we believe in our capacity to respond.” pic.twitter.com/T7iR9O71Sn
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 2, 2024

Additionally, Aston Villa’s record against the top six has been poor, not only bowing down to Tottenham (4-0) but also failing to take on the challenges against Manchester United and Chelsea.

On the other hand, Emery’s men have exhibited great form against other competitors. This probably explains their solid fourth position despite not always displaying the most captivating soccer.

Emery is expected to install his classic mid-block, which could backfire against City’s relentless assault. This approach may lead Aston Villa to adopt an overly passive stance, risking minimal attacking efforts throughout the match. As space becomes increasingly scarce, Villa might quickly find themselves suffocated by City’s pressure.

Unai Emery joined the media this afternoon to preview our trip to face Manchester City tomorrow night. 🗣️
“To play against Manchester City is very difficult, especially playing away.
“We are excited and very, very motivated.” pic.twitter.com/uCi61Em3vj
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 2, 2024

This detail might seem minor, but it often validates criticisms of Emery’s performance in high-stakes matches.

The absence of the injured Kamara makes things even more complicated for Villa.

The Spaniard has been a major reason for the team’s stability, but since he’s been out, the midfield has looked less stable. This is something to worry about against a team like City that uses every half-space available.

Manchester City vs Aston Villa Betting Tip

Pick: Manchester City to keep a clean sheet.
Odds: +117 (Tonybet)

City is generally pretty good at keeping a clean sheet, thanks to their versatile cadre of central defenders. On Aston Villa’s side, it has been a while since their last clean sheet in the Premier League.

This stark contrast sets the stage perfectly for City’s tactics of sustaining pressure and strategically overloading areas of the pitch. Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku will be key in dissecting Aston Villa’s often too-passive defence.

Full focus! 🫡
🤝 #AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/bAmfYzj936
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 1, 2024

Given these factors, it is hard to see Villa keeping a clean sheet or penetrating City’s well-orchestrated defensive setup.

Given City’s position in the league standings – an atypical third place for a squad under Pep Guardiola – they are unlikely to go all-out. Instead, I expect City to adopt a measured approach, cautiously building their advantage while slowly suffocating Aston Villa.

Disclaimer: Odds are accurate at the time of posting and subject to change. Please verify the latest odds on our platform before betting.