Prediction and odds for the game: Aston Villa (14/1) v Manchester City (1/6)
We are backing the over 2.5 goals at odds of 2/5
When: Sunday 1st March 2020, Kick-off 4:30 PM
Where: Wembley Stadium
On Sunday afternoon, Aston Villa and Manchester City go head-to-head at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.
Aston Villa
This competition is by no means the Villans priority, with preserving their Premier League their primary objective this season. However, the team from the Midlands have failed to win a trophy since winning this competition back in 1996. They may be in the final, but Dean Smith’s team will know that they have a major task on their hands to get the better of the reigning Premier League champions.
Villa head into this match on the back of three straight defeats. The Villans also conceded at least twice in all three of those losses. Their last victory in any game came in the semi-finals against Leicester in a 2-1 win.
The League Cup campaign has certainly been the highlight of Villa’s season so far. Smith’s team have won five of their last six matches in the competition this season, with the only blip a 1-1 draw against Leicester in the semi-final first leg.
Manchester City
Just like their opponents, winning the Carabao Cup is not Manchester City’s priority this season. However, Citizens boss Pep Guardiola tends to take the cup competitions seriously. The Citizens look unlikely to win the league, they will be keen to get at least some silverware in the bag, even if it is scant consolation. By their high standards, Manchester City’s form this season has been inconsistent. Maybe they have become victims of their own success in the last few seasons.
As the holders of the Carabao Cup, as you would imagine the Citizens have a pretty strong record in the competition. In fact, until the 1-0 second leg semi-final defeat against Manchester United, City were undefeated in 90 minutes in 17 matches. Ironically, their last defeat in the League Cup also came against their city rivals in 2016. Guardiola’s team have been prolific in the Carabao Cup this season, scoring three goals in four of their last five matches.
Manchester City have an excellent recent record against Aston Villa, winning six of the last seven meetings in all competitions while losing just one of the last 11 competitive meetings between the pair.
Conclusion
It is hard to look past a Manchester City victory in this game as if they play at full capacity Villa will have no chance of a win. The City win offered no value, so instead, we are backing over 2.5 goals to be scored. The other bet we are backing is Jack Grealish to be an anytime goalscorer. The midfielder is in excellent form and could cause the City defence problems.
Verdict: Back the over 2.5 goals scored at odds of 2/5 and/or Jack Grealish as an anytime scorer at odds of 11/2. (All odds are taken from Bet365).
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