Manchester City vs. Aston Villa: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
Manchester City are looking to bounce back from three straight Premier League defeats when they take on Aston Villa on Saturday.
City's poor run has seen them fall 10 points off leaders Leicester, although they do have a game in hand.
It's the first time City have lost three consecutive matches since November 2008, and they still haven't won back-to-back matches in the league since beating Newcastle United and Bournemouth back in October. Manuel Pellegrini, who will leave the club in the summer, is under pressure to get his side to put a run of victories together.
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The Chilean believes around 75 points will be enough to win the title this season.
"We have just had a bad moment, but we have 33 points [available] to try to reach it," said Pellegrini.
"I said a couple of months ago, before we ended the first round of fixtures, that for me maybe the winner will have less than 80 points. It is impossible to know, but I am sure we will have a champion of around 75 points or more.
"We are not going to give up. Ten points is a lot, but we have one game [in hand], and in the Premier League you never know when you are going to lose points.
"I don't see why the players would be in a negative mind. I think they try to win every time they play."
Villa sit bottom of the table and are staring relegation in the face. Remi Garde's appointment has done little for their chances of staying up.
They are currently eight points adrift of safety.
Date: Saturday, 5 March
Kick-off: 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET
TV Listings: NBC Sports Live Extra
Live Stream: See the below tweet
"Need to know how you can tune in to #cityvvilla? 📺
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) March 4, 2016"
Global TV listings: https://t.co/EyU2nOpR3Z #MCFC pic.twitter.com/NBtr8oR4Mg
Form Guide
Manchester City
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City
Liverpool 1-1 Manchester City (League Cup final—City won on pens)
Manchester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City 1-4 Leicester City
Sunderland 0-1 Manchester City
Aston Villa
Aston Villa 1-3 Everton
Stoke City 2-1 Aston Villa
Aston Villa 0-6 Liverpool
Aston Villa 2-0 Norwich City
West Ham 2-0 Aston Villa
"#TBT: Gabby Agbonlahor scores the final goal in a 4-2 win at @MCFC in September 2012. #AVFC #MCFC #MCIAVLhttps://t.co/LSnRCq7RFn
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) March 3, 2016"
Predicted Formations
Manchester City
City are boosted by the return of Yaya Toure, who missed the midweek defeat to Liverpool with an ankle knock. Fabian Delph, Kevin De Bruyne and Samir Nasri remain out.
Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart, Wright, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov, Kompany, Mangala, Otamendi, Sagna, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Fernando, Navas, Silva, Toure, Aguero, Bony, Iheanacho, Sterling.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernandinho, Toure; Navas, Iheanacho, Silva; Aguero.
Aston Villa
Villa are still missing Carlos Sanchez, Jack Grealish, Libor Kozak, Adama Traore and Jordan Amavi but have no fresh injury concerns.
Aston Villa (from): Bunn, Guzan, Bacuna, Clark, Hutton, Lescott, Okore, Richards, Richardson, Gil, Gueye, N'Zogbia, Sinclair, Veretout, Westwood, Lyden, Agbonlahor, Ayew, Gestede.
Predicted XI (5-3-2): Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Clark, Cissokho; Bacuna, Gueye, Westwood; Ayew, Agbonlahor.
"Press Conference: Rémi Garde on @MCFC game and proving the critics wrong. In full: https://t.co/Wrpy3i1uQU #AVFChttps://t.co/dt1n4FtXHR
— Aston Villa FC (@AVFCOfficial) March 4, 2016"
Players to Watch
Manchester City: Kelechi Iheanacho
He may not start—but he should do.
Kelechi Iheanacho is one of the few players in the City squad well-rested and ready for action. He's scored nine goals this season and has largely been confined to the sidelines.
He brings energy and urgency to the City attack, and given the chance, he can finish superbly.
City have themselves a 19-year-old set for stardom. Pep Guardiola is going to love working with him.
Aston Villa: Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Agbonlahor has perhaps failed to fulfil his early promise, but he remains a forward who poses a danger.
He has pace, is prepared to run and defenders and is capable of producing quality.
Injuries have restricted his playing time in recent seasons, but his recent display against Norwich City showed he still has something to offer.
Key Battle
Sergio Aguero vs. Micah Richards
Micah Richards has been one of the few Villa players to emerge with credit from this disappointing season.
He left City on a free in the summer to resurrect his ailing, injury-affected career. It's a move that has done him the world of good.
But on Saturday, he has to stop Sergio Aguero, the Premier League's finest marksman, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season.
Aguero is the nest in his position. Quick and strong, he's potent in front of goal.
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games, visit the official site or go to the ticket page on the home club's official website.
"This man netted an 89th minute winner last time we faced Villa at home.Will there be more late drama tomorrow? #mcfchttps://t.co/3dmCq4QLGL
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) March 4, 2016"
Odds
Manchester City: -455
Aston Villa: +1012
Draw: +521
"Screams of joy! .@VincentKompany is the cover star for #cityvvilla. Get your programme at tomorrow's match. #mcfc pic.twitter.com/tPtKOysevj
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) March 4, 2016"
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.
