Roberto Mancini takes his men to Villa Park as Manchester City face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Monday 4 March. In the reverse fixture at the Etihad in November, the Premier League champions won 5-0.

Carlos Tevez
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will bank of Carlos Tevez to score against Aston Villa. Reuters

Where to Watch

Kick-off is set for 8pm GMT. Live coverage will be available on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Radio commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Overview

Paul Lambert's side enters this game after a 2-1 away defeat to Arsenal. Villa are struggling in the relegation zone, and lie 18th in the league with 24 points from 27 games. Wigan are level on points with the Villans but their superior goal difference separates the two teams, with Roberto Martinez's men 17th in the table.

Villa have managed just one win in their last ten league games, a poor run that has pushed them to the lower reaches of the table. The Villans pulled off a surprise win over City in a Capital One Cup tie in September 2012. Lambert will be looking for a similar performance against the English champions on Monday night. A victory for the hosts could see them leap-frog Wigan, out of the relegation zone.

City come into this game after a comfortable 2-0 victory over the European champions Chelsea. Second-half goals from Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez were enough to seal all three points and keep their hope of retaining the title alive - barely. With Premier League leaders Manchester United defeating Norwich City 4-0, the gap at the top of the table has now increased to 15 points with 11 games remaining for City.

Mancini must aim to win all his club's remaining league games - and hope local rivals Manchester United slip up - to have any chance of winning the Premier League. A win against Villa will re-establish a 12-point gap at the top of the table. The Citizens won just two out of their last five league games and registered six wins out of 13 away games played in the league this season.

Kolo Toure
Kolo Toure is likely to start for Manchester City against Aston Villa Reuters

Team Guide

Aston Villa

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): L W D L L
  • Last Result: Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa

Manchester City

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W W L D D
  • Last Result: Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea

Team News

Christian Benteke
Christian Benteke has been in impressive form for Aston Villa this season Reuters

Lambert has few injury worries ahead of the match. Chris Herd and Gary Gardner remain long-term absentees, while winger Marc Albrighton and Republic of Ireland international Richard Dunne are ruled out. Belgian striker Christian Benteke is likely to lead Villa's attack.

Probable Line-Up: Guzan; Lowton, Baker, Clark, Bennett; Westwood, Delph; Wiemann, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor; Benteke

City also have few injury worries. The champions will be without skipper Vincent Kompany and former Inter Milan defender Maicon. England international duo of Micah Richards and Gareth Barry are unlikely to feature. Former United striker Carlos Tevez is likely to lead City's attack with fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero.

Probable Line-Up: Hart; Zabaleta, K.Toure, Nastasic, Clichy; Milner, Y. Toure, Rodwell, Silva; Tevez, Aguero

Manchester United FC