Aston Villa vs. Manchester City Betting Odds and Free Pick

Matchday 17 of the Premier League delivers an early Christmas gift as Aston Villa hosts Manchester City in the weekend’s opening game.

Aston Villa comes off a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest, conceding two goals in the final minutes.

Manchester City suffered a similar fate, also losing 2-1, but theirs came at home in the Manchester Derby against United.

Aston Villa vs. Manchester Betting Odds and Info

Why bet on Aston Villa?

Aston Villa isn’t as strong as last season and has dropped points that could hurt them in the long run. For instance, this weekend, they were leading 0-1 as visitors against Nottingham Forest thanks to a goal by Jhon Durán but conceded two late goals in the 87th and 90+3 minutes to lose the match.

With this result, Villa sits in seventh place with 25 points, falling further behind their rivals. They now have more goals conceded (25) than scored (24), which is surprising given they have Emiliano Martínez in goal, the Argentinian who has been named the best goalkeeper in the world for two consecutive years.

In their last match, Dibu made a spectacular save that went viral on social media, but hewas criticized for attempting to catch the ball rather than deflecting it in the lead-up to the first goal. This marked his second consecutive game with an error after another incident versus Leipzig in the Champions League.

On the other hand, Colombian striker Jhon Durán continues his dream season. The 21-year-old scored his sixth Premier League goal and his 11th of the season overall. He now has three consecutive games with a goal and boasts an impressive average of one goal every 80 minutes in the league. However, Ollie Watkins remains the team’s top scorer with seven goals, although he’s no longer an undisputed starter.

At home, Aston Villa has played eight league matches, losing the first to Arsenal (0-2) but then recording four wins and three draws.

Unai Emery’s squad is dealing with only one injury, Jacob Ramsey, while Leon Bailey remains doubtful for the next match.

Why bet on Manchester City?

Manchester City’s struggles continue to worsen, and Pep Guardiola seems unable to find a solution. This weekend, they lost the Manchester derby to a United team that has been underperforming for several seasons, sparking a wave of criticism against the Spanish manager.

City had taken the lead with a goal from Josko Gvardiol, but a double mistake by Matheus Nunes handed United a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted in the 88th minute. Then, Amad Diallo scored in the 90th minute to secure the win for the Red Devils.

This marks City’s eighth loss in their last 11 matches, with two draws and only one win against Nottingham Forest (3-0). It’s been a humiliating stretch for a team that has won four consecutive league titles. Currently, City sits in fifth place with 27 points, nine behind league leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand. They are only two points ahead of Aston Villa, meaning another loss could see them drop at least one position.

The team’s problems are evident in both attack and defense, but Guardiola faces heavy criticism for allowing Julián Álvarez to leave for Atlético Madrid without bringing in another striker. Erling Haaland is the team’s top scorer with 13 goals, but the next on the list is defender Josko Gvardiol with four. Additionally, Haaland has only scored once in his last five games after a phenomenal start to the season.

As visitors, City has three wins, two draws, and three losses. They are winless in their last four away games, losing to Bournemouth (2-1), Brighton (2-1), Liverpool (2-0), and drawing with Crystal Palace (2-2) in their most recent outing.

In terms of injuries, City will be without Nathan Aké, Manuel Akanji, Oscar Bobb, and Rodri. However, Englishman Rico Lewis will return this weekend after serving his suspension.

Final Betting Analysis: Aston Villa vs. Manchester City

The last time these two faced off was on April 3 of this year for the Premier League, with Manchester City securing a 4-1 win thanks to a Phil Foden hat-trick and a goal from Rodri, while Durán scored for the Villains. However, the last time they met at Villa Park, the hosts clinched a 1-0 victory.

The odds at Gambyl Exchange favor Manchester City, with their Moneyline set at 2.17, Aston Villa at 3.4, and a draw at 3.68.

It promises to be a great match between two teams coming off losses after conceding late goals, both desperately needing a victory as they fall short of their aspirations this season. Manchester City’s form has been extremely poor, and there’s no sign of a quick recovery for a team that, despite its millions, now suffers from a short squad. Given the circumstances, we believe in a 2-2 tie.

Go for a win for a Draw. If you bet $100 at 3.68, you will gain $268 for a total payout of $368.

Aston Villa vs. Manchester City Betting Pick: Draw