Verdict: Manchester City win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 8/5

Bookmaker: Dachbet

In what will be an incredibly emotional afternoon from the Etihad this weekend, Manchester City will host newly-crowned Europa League champions Aston Villa on Sunday as both sides sign off the 2025/26 campaign.

Manchester City

Starting with the hosts, while Manchester City might have eventually fallen short this week in the race to recapture their Premier League crown, there will certainly be a party atmosphere at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon. With it officially announced on Friday morning that Pep Guardiola will be ending his decade of dominance in the blue half of Manchester, the Sky Blues will be desperate to hand their iconic boss a real goodbye this weekend. Crowned FA Cup champions at Wembley on May 16th as they clinched a 1-0 victory against Chelsea, Man City are unbeaten in all of their previous 11 consecutive appearances across all competitions. Although they might have been forced to settle for a silver medal finish among England’s elite this year, Guardiola’s superstar squad have won all of their previous five straight matchups at the Etihad by an aggregate score of 14-2.

Manchester City Team News

Following Guardiola out of the Etihad exit this weekend, Portuguese ace Bernardo Silva will lead Manchester City out for one final time on Sunday afternoon. Omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad this week, academy graduate Phil Foden could be handed a full recall.

Bagging a last-gasp equaliser away at Bournemouth on Tuesday and registering 27 Premier League strikes this season, the record-breaking Erling Haaland will spearhead City’s attack. Continuing to impress since arriving from Crystal Palace back in January, England international Marc Guehi will start at the heart of Guardiola’s defence.

Aston Villa

As for the visitors, storming their way to this season’s Europa League crown on Wednesday night as they clinched an iconic 3-0 romp against Freiburg in Germany, Aston Villa certainly find the mood in their camp at a famous high. Wrapping up a lucrative Champions League return with time to spare, Unai Emery’s history-making squad will travel to Manchester looking to upset Guardiola’s day. Roaring back from their minor blip on either side of opening May, the one-time PSG boss has seen his squad find a major clinical edge in the final third. Securing a thrilling 4-2 victory against now-former Premier League champions Liverpool last week, Aston Villa have notched 13 goals in just their previous four appearances across all competitions. It should also be noted, Emery’s camp claimed a 1-0 win when they welcomed City to the Midlands for their reverse Premier League showdown back on October 26th.

Aston Villa Team News

Only days removed from their iconic Europa League success over in Turkey, Emery could be tempted to make a raft of alterations on Sunday afternoon. Still sidelined with a long-term knee injury, Aston Vill will once again be without French midfielder Boubacar Kamara this weekend.

Left as an unused substitute in Istanbul, January recruit and former Chelsea youngster Tammy Abraham could be handed a chance to lead the line. Returning from a recent muscle issue and making a cameo Europa League appearance in midweek, Belgium international Amadou Onana could be handed a full recall.

Manchester City vs Aston Villa Key Factors to Consider

• When Manchester City and Aston Villa met for their reverse Premier League showdown back on October 26th, the newly-crown Europa League champions clinched a 1-0 victory in the Midlands.
• The Sky Blues are unbeaten in all of their previous 11 appearances across all competitions (nine wins, two draws).
• Including their iconic Europa League success on Wednesday night, Aston Villa have notched 13 goals in their previous four appearances across all formats.
• Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland has notched 27 Premier League strikes so far this season.
• Man City have won all of their previous five straight matchups at the Etihad by an aggregate score of 14-2.

Conclusion

Set to bid their iconic boss an emotional farewell on Sunday afternoon, Manchester City will be desperate to hand Guardiola one final flurry at the Etihad. Although they might have officially watched their Premier League title dreams go up in smoke in midweek, the Sky Blues should certainly have a party atmosphere in their camp. With Aston Villa potentially still emotionally and physically recovering from their famous Europa League success over in Turkey on Wednesday night, we are backing Guardiola to sign off his decade of dominance with a final victory in the blue half of Manchester.

Verdict: Manchester City win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 8/5

Bookmaker: Dachbet