Roberto Mancini breezed into his Friday press conference wearing a David Platt mask to poke fun at himself and illustrate a lighter mood after recent travails during which he sent his assistant to speak with the media. Manchester City's manager protects the Premier League's only unbeaten record against a team defeated 4-1 in the corresponding fixture last season, though Aston Villa's recent form has them a place above the drop zone. After Maicon helped inspire Sunday's 3-2 win over Tottenham when entering as a substitute the Brazilian may start, while Mario Balotelli, dropped from the squad for that game due to attitude issues, will hope for a return. Jamie Jackson
Venue Etihad Stadium, Saturday 3pm
Tickets Sold out
Last season Man City 4 Aston Villa 1
Referee Jon Moss
This season's matches 5 Y21, R1, 4.40 cards per game
Odds Man City 2-9 Aston Villa 12-1 Draw 5-1
Manchester City v Aston Villa: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Illustration: Graphic Manchester City
Subs from Pantilimon, Wright, Zabaleta, Lescott, García, Kolarov, K Touré, Razak, Sinclair, Nimely, Balotelli, Milner, Agüero
Doubtful Balotelli (omitted), Clichy (back), Lescott (back), Milner (hamstring)
Injured Rodwell (groin, 25 Nov), Richards (knee, 9 Dec), Guidetti (leg, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide WDWWWW
Disciplinary record Y11 R1
Leading scorer Dzeko 6
Aston Villa
Subs from Given, Hutton, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Holman, Delph, Bowery, Stevens, Baker, Williams, Carruthers
Doubtful None
Injured Bennett (knee, 24 Nov), Bent (ankle, 24 Nov), Herd (knee, 24 Nov), Dunne (groin, 1 Dec), N'Zogbia (knee, 1 Dec), Gardner (knee, May), Petrov (leukaemia, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide LWDLLD
Disciplinary record Y24 R2
Leading scorers Bent, Benteke, Weimann 2
Match pointers
• No away team have kept a clean sheet at the Etihad Stadium in the past 37 games played there
• Villa's last league win at City came in April 2007 when goals from John Carew and Shaun Maloney secured a 2-0 victory
• Mario Balotelli has scored six goals in four appearances against Villa in all competitions
• Victory at Sunderland a fortnight ago ended a run of 13 Premier League away games without a win for Villa
• Joleon Lescott has scored more top-flight goals against Villa (five) than he has against any other opponent
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