Manchester City vs Aston Villa: Tim Sherwood's side face bump back to earth after FA Cup as their Etihad Stadium record is dreadful

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at the Etihad Stadium

A view of Manchester City's Etihad Stadium (GETTY IMAGES)

After an incredible week, Aston Villa may be brought down to earth on Saturday evening at the Etihad when they face the current Premier League champions.

The Midlands side defeated Liverpool at Wembley last Sunday to reach the FA Cup final adding to the rejuvenation of the club at the hands of Tim Sherwood. However, history is not on Villa’s side against Man City, with the Manchester side winning the last seven home games against their counterparts.

The clash is important to both sides for opposite reasons. City need to win to keep the pressure on league leaders Chelsea at the summit of the table as well as attempting to secure Champions League football for next season; whereas Villa need three points to create a bigger gap between them and the relegation zone.

Under Sherwood, Villa play a different style of football and are a bigger attacking threat than they were under Paul Lambert, making them a threat on the counter to any team.

Villa talisman Christian Benteke is also in red hot form scoring nine goals in his last seven games in all competitions. Add in Fabian Delph and Jack Grealish and the Claret and Blues could well be a threat on Saturday.

However, with the superior class in the City team including the in-form Sergio Aguero, Manuel Pellegrini will be looking at the fixture as a routine win.

Christian Benteke celebrates the equaliser in the FA Cup semi-final win over Liverpool (GETTY IMAGES)

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 5:30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Villa 0 Man City 2 (Toure, Aguero), Premier League, October 2014.

Man City 4 (Dzeko 2, Jovetic, Toure), Premier League, May 2014.

Villa 3 (El Ahmadi, Bacuna, Weiman) Man City 2 (Toure, Dzeko).

STATS…

City have won the last seven home meetings against Villa, scoring 23 goals and conceding just twice.

Since the Premier League began in 1992, the Blues have won 13 of the 17 home meetings against Villa, taking 41 points from a possible 51 and scoring 43 goals to Villa’s 13.

Yaya Toure has scored in the last three meetings between the two sides.

ODDS…

Man City to win: 1.29

Villa to win: 13

Draw: 3.4

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 5:30pm and highlights on BBC One at 10:30pm.