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Last weekend, City clawed two points back in their title race against Liverpool as the blues beat Crystal Palace and neighbours United held the Merseysiders to a 1-1 draw. This week, City face Aston Villa as they look to keep the pace at the top of the table.
It’s been a while since this fixture, with Villa spending three years outside the top flight. The bleus have a good recent record in this fixture, but what do the stats say?
Draws? Not Likely
It’s almost 25 years since these two teams drew in Manchester. Every match since that 2-2 draw on New Years Eve 1994 has ended in a victory for either side, with City winning 17 and Villa just three. In fact, there have only been 16 draws in 84 matches between the two in Manchester.
From those matches, City have won 51, with Villa wining just 18, so it’s fair to say that it’s advantage City on Saturday.
Blues Winning Big
City have won the last 9 league matches at home to Villa, scoring 26 goals and conceding just four. Villa’s last league win was April 2007, when the Villans won 2-0.Prior to that, City won the previous four, scoring 12 and conceding just 3, which was the last time they kept a clean sheet against City in Manchester, which was the first time they stopped City from scoring in this fixture since October 1989.
Winning Streaks And Winless Runs
City’s longest winning streak against Villa is six matches, achieved between September 2007 and October 2011. The blues scored 17 goals in this run, conceding just two. The longest unbeaten run stretches over eight matches, which was achieved between September 1912 and February 1923, with City winning six and drawing two.
By comparison, City longest losing streak is just two matches – September 1953 and October 1954 and January 1988 and October 1989.The blues managed just two goals, while Villa managed to score 9. The longest winless run is six matches, between September 1953 and April 1959. City lost three and drew three during this period.
October Blues For Villa
City and Villa have only played each other 8 times in Manchester during October. From those matches, City have won six and Villa just the two. City and Villa have never played each other on 26th October.
Who will come out on top on Saturday?