Unai Emery takes several gambles as Moussa Diaby decision made Aston Villa predicted XI v Man City

Aston Villa welcome Man City to Villa Park on Wednesday night as they host them in the Premier League. The Villains have their first league midweek fixture of the 2023/24 campaign, and there isn't a more tougher test than the reigning champions and treble winners.

It's been more than ten-years since Villa defeated the Citizens. A barren run of 13 defeats and two draws has came since their last win in September 2013. Unai Emery has got Villa fans believing however, and with the likes of Jack Grealish and Rodri suspended, this is a big chance for them to really show that they're capable of mixing it with the top six.

City still have so much depth that they'll prove a tough test for Villa, and the latter's performance will need to be better than their display last time out. A 2-2 draw at Bournemouth in which Ollie Watkins scored a stoppage time header is something Villa will have to better next time out, and a win on Wednesday would move them ahead of Pep Guardiola's side. A good omen for the match is that John Brooks has been appointed the referee for the game, and he's not officiated a defeat since becoming a Premier League referee.

Several teams have adopted the approach of shutting up shop against City and trying to play against them on the counter-attack, but Villa would do best in playing their natural game. Boubacar Kamara is back and available for selection after serving a one-game ban, and he is one player that will make for a selection dilemma.

Here are the 11 players we think will start on Wednesday, along with the nine substitutes that will be at the disposal of Unai Emery.