Aston Villa v Manchester City preview: can Villa end Maresca's perfect start? Team news, stats and head-to-head

Manchester City go to Villa Park on Saturday 24 October (12:30 UK) with a perfect record — and Aston Villa are the side who have caused them more problems than anyone in recent years.

The head-to-head: Villa's hold over City

• City have lost their last three away trips to Villa, by an aggregate score of 4-1.
• City have lost four of their last six Premier League meetings with Villa.
• Villa won both league meetings last season, including a 2-1 win at the Etihad on the final day — Pep Guardiola's last match in charge.
• Another win would give Villa three straight league wins over City for the first time in the Premier League era.

City's perfect start

City have won all seven league games, matching the best starts to a top-flight season by Chelsea (2005-06) and Liverpool (2019-20), and Maresca is the first manager in Premier League history to win his first seven matches in charge. They lead Arsenal by three points.

Erling Haaland has 12 goals in 10 appearances in all competitions, including eight in the league — see the Golden Boot race. He sat out the 5-1 win over AEK Athens in midweek, when Phil Foden scored a hat-trick, but Maresca says he is fully available.

Villa's strange season

Villa are 12th, only two points off the top six, but they have still not won a league game at Villa Park this season (one draw, two defeats). In Europe it is a different story: they are one of five clubs with a perfect Champions League record, and they are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions. Unai Emery earned his 100th Premier League win at Newcastle last weekend.

Team news

Aston Villa

• Out: Amadou Onana (cruciate ligament), Matteo Ruggeri (thigh), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring)
• Doubts: Johan Manzambi (muscle), Modou Keba Cissé (groin)

Manchester City

• Out: Antoine Semenyo (knee, around eight weeks)
• Expected back: Mateo Kovačić, Matheus Nunes and Nico O'Reilly, rested in midweek with minor problems

Maresca said Haaland, Foden and Rayan Cherki "can play all together", depending on the game plan.

Possible line-ups

Villa: Suzuki; Cash, Lindelöf, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Gomes; McGinn, Manzambi, Buendía; Jackson

City: Donnarumma; Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Bouaddi, Fernández; Foden, Haaland, Doku

The key battle

City's new midfield — Enzo Fernández, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, three of the most expensive signings of the summer — against Boubacar Kamara and João Gomes. Villa's best results against City have come from compact defending and quick breaks; City have conceded seven league goals, more than Arsenal or Brighton, and have looked vulnerable on the counter.

Our view

City have the form; Villa have the history. If Villa can keep it level for an hour, the pressure of a perfect record could start to tell. Follow it live on our scores page and see the Premier League table.

FAQ

What time is Aston Villa v Manchester City? 12:30 UK time on Saturday 24 October 2026 (19:30 Beijing time), at Villa Park.

When did Manchester City last beat Aston Villa away? City have lost their last three Premier League visits to Villa Park.

Is Haaland fit to face Aston Villa? Yes. Maresca says he is fully available after missing the midweek Champions League game.