Just over a week to go in the Premier League season and both the title and Champions League qualification issues are still very much to be decided.
The former will be resolved on Sunday, when Chelsea and Manchester United are both in action, but two of the sides chasing fourth spot clash 24 hours previously and Manchester City should be opposed at odds on at home to Aston Villa.
Both teams that meet at Eastlands are in need of three points on Saturday, given Tottenham’s stranglehold on the position with just a handful of games to go, but a share of the spoils looks likely and that will play into the hands of the London club.
City host Harry Redknapp’s men after their encounter with Villa and I suspect Roberto Mancini’s team may just have one eye on that crucial fixture. They need to pick as many points as possible but Villa have impressed since their 7-1 humbling at Stamford Bridge and Martin O’Neill’s side should be supported.
With Blackburn to come at Villa Park on the final day of the season, O’Neill’s men are still very much in the hunt for Europa League football next term, at the very least, and four wins and a draw since that thrashing at the hands of Chelsea has been impressive.
I, among many others, had written-off Villa’s European thrust following that result but three away victories on the bounce sees them sit just one point behind Saturday’s opponents and they should return south with at least a draw.
Mancini has spoken this week of his satisfaction with a fifth place finish and I detect that his team have run out of steam in recent weeks. City were laboured in defeat on home soil to rivals United and once again failed to impress when being held to a goalless draw at The Emirates last time out in a fixture they really needed to win.
With Villa equally effective on their travels as they are in front of their own fans, only Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have a better away record, I think it is well worth taking on the hosts and see the likes of James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor causing City problems.
Milner was deservedly recognised with Young Player of the Year honours in midweek and while his side seemingly have all the momentum, Mancini’s men are stumbling over the finish line.
2pts Lay Man City (vs. Aston Villa) @ 1.94 (Betfair