Khusanov’s big chance? Man City faces Aston Villa in key fixture

On April 22, Manchester City will welcome Aston Villa in a Premier League Week 34 showdown, which is expected to be one of the key matches of the round. Both clubs are locked in a fierce battle for Champions League qualification spots.

Fierce Competition for a UCL Ticket

Manchester City started the season as one of the main contenders for the title, but surprisingly, with just a few rounds left, they are still fighting for Champions League qualification. Ahead of Matchweek 34, City sits in 5th place with 58 points, having secured a 2-0 away victory against Everton last round.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, defeated Newcastle 4-1, further intensifying the race. Following their Champions League exit at the hands of PSG, Unai Emery’s squad has shifted its focus entirely to the Premier League. Villa remains in the race, currently sitting in 7th place with 57 points, just one point behind City. Given Emery’s successful squad development, this encounter promises high-intensity football with no room for boredom.

Will Khusanov Start Tonight?

Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov is a possible starter for tonight’s match against Aston Villa, primarily due to the physicality and pace of Villa’s attackers. The Uzbek defender’s speed and strength in one-on-one duels could prove valuable against players like Marcus Rashford, who moved to Villa on loan after losing his spot at Manchester United, Marco Asensio, who was deemed surplus at PSG, and Morgan Rogers, one of Villa’s most explosive forwards.

Predicted Lineups

As usual, football analytics platforms such as “90 min,” “One Football,” and “Sportsmole” have released predicted lineups for Manchester City:

“90 min” Prediction: Ortega, Nunes, Khusanov, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Kovacic, Niko, Savino, De Bruyne, Doku, Marmoush.

“One Football” Prediction: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Gundogan, Niko, Foden, De Bruyne, Doku, Marmoush.

“Sportsmole” Prediction: Ortega, Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Kovacic, Maketi, Foden, De Bruyne, Doku, Marmoush.

Match Details: The highly anticipated Manchester City vs. Aston Villa game will kick off at 00:00 Tashkent time on April 23.