Before Villa Park hosts this blockbuster, it’s worth looking at what each manager did in midweek, because those selections show how both are thinking.
Unai Emery rang the changes against Viking. He made four changes from the side that won at Newcastle, with Pau Torres, John McGinn, Ross Barkley and Ibrahim Mbaye coming in. The XI was Suzuki in goal, with Mbaye, Lindelöf, Torres and Mings across the back, and McGinn, Barkley and João Gomes in midfield. Buendía, Alysson and Nicolas Jackson made up the attack. It was a fresh-looking group that Emery trusted to protect Villa’s perfect Champions League start, and the rotation suggests a manager managing a heavy schedule rather than gambling on it. (101greatgoals) (zamin)
Manchester City’s selection under Enzo Maresca was just as telling. Injuries left Erling Haaland on the bench against AEK, and Maresca named a much-changed team. The beneficiary was Phil Foden. He started on the right, finished the game as a false nine, and scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win. Elliot Anderson also opened the scoring early, and Rayan Cherki added a third. Foden’s return to form is arguably the biggest storyline coming into this game. (‘Unbelievable’ Foden back in the groove with treble in Man City rout +2)
The contrast is interesting. Villa chose continuity with a few fresh faces, while City showed how deep their squad runs by winning comfortably with understudies. Neither team will line up identically today, but the patterns are clear. Villa lean on energy, pressing and the creativity of McGinn and Buendía behind Jackson. City, even in rotation, can hurt you through Foden’s movement and Cherki’s passing.
- The real question is which version of each team turns up at Villa Park. If Emery goes back to his strongest group and Maresca restores Haaland, this could be a very different contest from either midweek game.
