Manchester City vs Aston Villa prediction 24.05.2026 | English Premier League

City’s title hopes will have to be postponed for another season following a dramatic 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday, where Erling Haaland secured a late point with his 27th goal of the season in the 95th minute. Rumours have also been circulating regarding the future of Pep Guardiola, who is expected to leave the club at the end of the season, with Enzo Maresca seen as the most likely candidate to replace him at the Etihad.

As for recent matches, City’s form has been efficient rather than dominant, with victories over Brentford, Burnley and Arsenal, alongside draws against Everton and Bournemouth in recent weeks, results that ultimately proved costly in the title race.

The attacking burden has once again largely fallen on Haaland, who has registered 27 league goals alongside eight assists this season. Defensively, they have conceded fewer than one goal per match on average and have been especially hard to break down at the Etihad (only 12 goals conceded in 18 home league fixtures).

On the injury front, long-term absentee Rodri has continued to struggle with fitness issues this season, while there have also been concerns surrounding defensive depth at various points of the campaign.

Villa have once again shown remarkable progress under Unai Emery and enter the final day with momentum after their emphatic victory over Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League final. This triumph ended Villa’s 44-year wait for a major European trophy - their first since 1982 - and has therefore guaranteed them a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. With that in mind, motivational issues could arise on the final day, as there is little left for Emery’s men to play for following their European success. 

Villa’s away form has occasionally been inconsistent, and defensive injuries have at times disrupted Emery’s preferred setup. Midfielder Amadou Onana has recently been sidelined, while Villa have also dealt with periodic concerns involving players such as Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres during the season.

Still, Villa’s attacking flexibility and Emery’s tactical discipline make them one of the few sides capable of frustrating City over 90 minutes.