Manchester City face Aston Villa in the Premier League tonight, with both sides looking to land a potentially vital blow in the race for Champions League qualification.
City start the week in the qualification spots after last weekend’s 2-0 win over Everton, though they are only a point ahead of seventh-placed Villa with five games left to play.
While Pep Guardiola’s side have favourable fixtures as they look to book a place in the top five, a win tonight could be key against an in-form Villa side.
And Unai Emery’s team – who face a more difficult path to make it back to Europe’s top cup competition – will be buoyed by recent performances as they look to leapfrog City for now.
Follow all the latest build-up, team news and updates from the Etihad below:
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
63 mins: Changes from Unai Emery now.
Axel Diasi and John McGinn are introduced to replace Matty Cash and Jacob Ramsey.
Emery is obviously hoping his captain can bring more control and possession in midfield.
City are on top presently.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
60 mins: Youri Tielemans attempts to slip a free kick into the box but it gets intercepted.
City’s attempt at counterin-attacking sends the ball to De Bruyne.
He fires it up to McAtee who glances up at Martinez and chips the goalkeeper only to curl the effort wide of the far post!
‘Is a draw a better result for City?’
“Is a draw a better result for City?
“They are one point ahead of Villa and, as both teams have similar run-ins, the remaining fixtures don’t offer either much of an advantage on the other.
“Yet the fact this is at the Etihad could make a draw a disappointment for the hosts.
“Certainly Pep Guardiola looks frustrated by proceedings so far.”
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
57 mins: De Bruyne crosses the ball from the right side and lifts it over to the back post.
Matty Cash is there to nod the ball away but sends it to Nico O’Reilly whose attempt at a volley is sent well wide of the target.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
54 mins: Man City have certainly stepped up the tempo of their own play since the restart.
They haven’t created many clear cut chances but Villa’s defence has been solid so far.
In response there hasn’t been much from the visitors in an attacking sense. Villa are feeling their way back into the match.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
51 mins: Morgan Rogers does some good work tracking back to tackle a striding Nico O’Reilly but he takes out the man and not the ball.
It earns him a yellow card and hands City a free kick. James McAtee curls the ball into the box but Onana is there to poke the ball out of play.
Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
48 mins: Marmoush is the danger for Man City. He’s great with the ball at his feet and is unafraid to take players on when close to the box.
Boubacar Kamara sticks out a leg to tackle him and withdraws it in time to avoid a foul. The striker’s touch then runs away from him and the ball drifts out for a goal kick.
Second half! Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
Manchester City get the second half underway. They work the ball over to the right wing but are repelled by Villa’s defence.
HT Man City 1-1 Aston Villa
This has been a pretty close affair so far.
Manchester City have created five chances with three of them on target while Aston Villa have created the same number but only two of theirs have troubled the goalkeeper.
City, as expected, are dominating possession, but Villa have the better xG at 1.35 compared to City’s 0.52.