The Athletic FC Podcast The Preview: Aston Villa vs Man City
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Oct 24, 2025 
Football journalist Stu James and tactical expert Tim Spiers dive into Aston Villa's impressive turnaround under Unai Emery, exploring how key players like Ollie Watkins are elevating their game. They also analyze Erling Haaland's scoring prowess for Manchester City and discuss whether City is quietly becoming a force this season. The duo speculates on how Villa will cope without Rodri and shares score predictions for the clash, alongside insights into other weekend matches, including Arsenal's form and Salah's role at Liverpool.
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Villa's Mid-Season Revival
- Aston Villa recovered strongly after a poor start, winning five across competitions before a midweek slip in Europe.
- Unai Emery's side improved through defensive spine players and added attacking threats beyond Ollie Watkins and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Haaland's Scoring Is Systemic
- Erling Haaland's current form is extraordinary and driven by intelligent movement plus relentless work-rate.
- City supply and attacking improvements magnify his scoring, making him almost uncontainable.
City's Defensive Reset
- Manchester City's defensive stability and goalkeeper signing strengthened a previously exposed area.
- A settled backline and role clarity have allowed them to grind out results they struggled for last season.