Dugout Discussion

Gundogan back in City starting XI as Guardiola names strong side for Villa

After weeks of starting XI rotation around cup competitions home and abroad, Manchester City are back at something approaching full strength this evening.

The champions-elect take on Aston Villa in their delayed Gameweek 32 fixture, with kick-off in the Midlands at 20:15 BST.

Ilkay Gundogan has embodied that week-to-week uncertainty, having been benched in three successive league matches between Gameweeks 28 and 31.

The German is back in a Premier League starting XI this evening, along with Ruben Dias and a number of other high-profile, well-owned City assets.

Pep Guardiola has reacted to Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Chelsea by making eight alterations, although the likelihood is that he would have rung most of those changes anyway.

Gundogan, Ederson, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden return to the team after benchings at Wembley.

Ruben Dias, Rodri and Gabriel Jesus are the only survivors from the side that started the last match.

Kevin De Bruyne is not involved after limping off with an ankle injury on Saturday, with Sergio Aguero also absent once again.

The Villa team news is more straightforward, with Dean Smith making only one change to his starting XI.

It’s an enforced one, too, with Trezeguet out for the season after knee surgery and replaced by teenage midfielder Jacob Ramsey.

This is the youngster’s first league start at Villa Park.

Jack Grealish is once again absent with a shin injury.


Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, Luiz, Traore, McGinn, Ramsey, Watkins.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Silva, Rodri, Gundogan, Mahrez, Jesus, Foden.

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659 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    No malice whatsoever. Ridiculous.

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      100% correct decision

      1. DycheDycheBaby
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Aye. It was mistimed and wreckless. Correct decision.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 11 months ago

          Yep

          Clear as day

          Don’t know how anyone with even two active brain cells could think anything otherwise

    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Agreed - no malice but a ridiculous challenge to make.

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        He's literally not even a second late.

    3. Cantona's Kung Fu Kick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      clear rc

  2. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Dias nailed now 😉

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Twas always

  3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Bye bye Johnno

  4. Duke Silver ☑
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Didn't mean it but reckless. Clear red.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      This. Clear red all day, every day.

  5. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Disgusting challenge.

    Should be more than 3 games.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      He's a split second late. Blimey has no one ever played the game?

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        So if you're a split second late, but break his leg or his ankle you shouldn't get sent off then?

        How late and high do you want the challenge to be to merit a red card?

      2. Kebab pig
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 11 months ago

        Just turn off the tv, clearly you have no idea what you are talking about

  6. Nimby
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    That is harsh.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      LOOOOOL

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Yes. Cant help but feel the super league drama is affecting var

  7. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Shd have sold stomes

    VAR anti big 6 bias in full effect

  8. JJeyy
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Cleared red I’ve seen this season

  9. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Stones back to normal...Straight red and 3 games ban

  10. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Ditching Stones on the WC has worked out well now.

  11. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    lets go justice for dias owners

  12. Rassi
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Clear red. Correct decision.

  13. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Deserved red. Stones owner.
    Was gone next gw anyway.

    Impressive city as well. What a pressure at times.

  14. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Settle down Pep

  15. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Rage transfer of Stones to Dunk

  16. JBG
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pretty clear red imo.

  17. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Totally correct.
    Cooper was sent off for Leeds for a similar challenge against Citeh last Saturday week

  18. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Benched Stones, I know things 🙂

    1. Ibralicious
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Same! Haha 😀

    2. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 11 months ago

      Sold him on WC but still doing crap, so I don't know Jack!

  19. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Oh fck off seriously from bad to worse

  20. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Someone needs to stop Pep before he embarrasses himself even more.

  21. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    City are a machine

  22. Bada Bing
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Pep getting his knickers in a twist. It's time for another sabbatical.

  23. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Cancelo coming on would be nice

  24. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo yc

  25. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundogan puts hand on ref

    Yellow

  26. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Green arrow for non Stones owners

  27. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo YC

  28. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo YC

  29. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo booked now too

    Pep is going to two-foot Peter Banks

  30. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 11 months ago

    And Gundo picked up a yellow too.

    This is the game that just keeps giving.