Match Preview: City vs. Aston Villa

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini takes his under fire squad down to Villa Park for Monday's, Monday night football against Aston Villa. The City boss whose seen his side react positively to going twelve points behind leaders Manchester United, is likely to start with the team that beat Chelsea 2-0 at home eight days ago.

Villa beat City once this season in the Carling Cup in September

A win for City is a must if they are to keep their slim title retention hopes alive after they went fifteen points behind on Saturday night. City go into the game against the relegation threatened Villains showing the form that won them the title last May. With two impressive performances against Leeds in the F.A. Cup a fortnight ago followed by another fantastic team display against Chelsea, City go travel to the midlands with no pressure and playing with a phenomenally attractive style of football that won them so many plaudits less than one year ago.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is definitely a man under pressure. Despite showing a more positive run of form of late, Lambert was forced to answer questions regarding his main players yet again this week. In recent times, Villa have become a club that has been forced to sell their best players due to the large financial  revenues of many other clubs. Young forward combination, Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke have been both linked with moves away which forced Lambert to brand that it would be "foolish" to look elsewhere as they may not receive the first team chances they have at Villa Park this season. 

For many weeks City have been waiting on the return of leader Vincent Kompany to the starting fold. After suffering injury more than six weeks ago, Kompany suffered another set back on his opposite calf during training. Roberto Mancini is unlikely to start his skipper leaving the most probable option of starting Majita Nastasic and Kolo Toure in the centre of City's defence. Former Villain, Gareth Barry is expected to return from injury in time to face his former club with Jack Rodwell likely to make way.

Paul Lambert will have a few selection headaches ahead of the clash with the Champions. Skipper Ron Vlaar is a doubt for the tie along with striker Darren Bent. However, with Mark Albrighton a doubt for the game. Lambert is likely to name an un-changed team that narrowly lost to Arsenal last weekend. 

Predicted Team:

Prediction: City 3 Villa 1 - Overall a comfortable win for City. I fully expect Villa to play an attacking side which may cause City problems, but with Mancini vs. Lambert standing at 3-0 in the meetings of the two men to the Italian, with 16 goals scored to Lambert's 3. I sense it will be another painful night. City have won five of the last six meetings with Villa, the side they have picked up the most Premier League points against. Goals from Aguero x2 and Yaya Toure with be enough despite Andy Weimann scoring a consolation.