Last season, Aston Villa did something no Villa side had managed since 1962-63: they beat Manchester City home and away in the league. Five months on, the two clubs look very different. City have won all six league games under new head coach Enzo Maresca and sit top of the table. Villa, the reigning Europa League winners, lost several key players in the summer and are 16th after one league win.
That is the backdrop for Aston Villa vs Man City at Villa Park on Saturday 24 October, a 12:30 PM UK kick-off, which is 5:00 PM IST in India. This preview covers the timing, how to watch in India, both teams’ form, the head-to-head, likely lineups, and City’s fixtures after this game.
Kick-Off Time and Where to Watch Aston Villa vs Man City in India
This is the early Saturday game in England, which suits Indian viewers well. Kick-off is 12:30 PM UK time, or 5:00 PM IST.
| Detail | Information |
| Competition | Premier League 2026-27 |
| Venue | Villa Park, Birmingham |
| UK kick-off | Saturday 24 October, 12:30 PM BST |
| India kick-off | Saturday 24 October, 5:00 PM IST |
| UAE kick-off | Saturday 24 October, 3:30 PM GST |
| UK TV | TNT Sports |
In India, Premier League matches are usually shown on Star Sports channels, with live streaming on JioHotstar. Check the day’s listings, as channel picks can change.
One caveat: Manchester City’s own fixture note says this game could move to 8:00 PM UK (12:30 AM IST on Sunday) if either club plays an away Champions League match on the Wednesday before. Both clubs are at home in Europe that week, so the 5:00 PM IST slot should hold, but it is worth a quick check on match day.
Aston Villa: Emery’s Rebuild Is Still Settling
Villa have 5 points from six league games and sit 16th. They have not won at Villa Park in the league yet.
| Date | Result | Score | Note |
| 10 Oct | Villa vs Brentford (H) | D 2-2 | Nicolas Jackson and John McGinn scored |
| 19 Sep | Tottenham vs Villa (A) | W 2-3 | First league win: Manzambi, Jackson, Buendía |
| 12 Sep | Villa vs Nottingham Forest (H) | L 1-2 | Igor Jesus won it late for Forest |
| 5 Sep | Hull vs Villa (A) | D 0-0 | A first point of the season |
| 31 Aug | Villa vs Arsenal (H) | L 0-1 | Tight, but no reward |
| 23 Aug | Brighton vs Villa (A) | L 4-0 | A heavy opening-day defeat |
The slow start makes sense when you look at the summer. Winning the Europa League earned Villa a Champions League place, but the squad that won it was broken up. Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Martínez all left.
Unai Emery has spent heavily to replace them. Johan Manzambi arrived from Freiburg as a club-record signing, Nicolas Jackson came from Chelsea, and João Gomes, Leon Goretzka and Taylor Harwood-Bellis add experience. Jackson already looks like the new focal point.
Europe has been kinder. Villa won their first Champions League league-phase game 3-2, and that gives Emery something to build on. Villa also play a league game on the weekend of 17-18 October and host Viking in the Champions League on 21 October, so check the latest results before kick-off.
Man City Under Maresca: Six From Six
Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola in the summer and has made the best possible start. City have 18 points from six league games, 16 goals scored and 5 conceded, and lead Arsenal by three points.
| Opponent | Score | Note |
| Liverpool (A), 11 Oct | W 0-3 | Haaland, Doku and Cherki scored after Gravenberch was sent off |
| Sunderland (H) | W 5-3 | Plenty of goals, but three conceded |
| Manchester United (A) | W 0-1 | Won the derby despite Phil Foden’s early red card |
| Coventry City (H) | W 1-0 | A narrow home win |
| Crystal Palace and Bournemouth | Wins | The first two steps of the run |
The Anfield win was the statement. City absorbed Liverpool’s early pressure, then took control once the hosts went down to ten men. Jeremy Doku was the standout, with a goal and a hand in the opener. Erling Haaland scored again, and Rayan Cherki added the third.
Maresca’s six straight league wins at the start of a reign equals the Premier League record. City have also won 2-0 at Porto in the Champions League.
There is noise off the pitch. An independent commission has found City guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules, and the club is appealing. So far, it has not affected results.
City host Ipswich on 17 October and AEK Athens in the Champions League on 20 October before this trip, so they could arrive at Villa Park on seven straight league wins.
Head-to-Head: Villa Won Both Games Last Season
City lead the overall Premier League record comfortably, with 31 wins to Villa’s 11 and 10 draws in 52 meetings. The recent story is very different.
| Date | Fixture | Score | Goals |
| 24 May 2026 | Man City vs Aston Villa | 1-2 | City: Semenyo 23′. Villa: Watkins 47′, 61′ |
| 26 Oct 2025 | Aston Villa vs Man City | 1-0 | Villa: Matty Cash 19′ |
The October 2025 game at Villa Park was decided by an early Matty Cash strike, and Villa held on. On the final day of last season, Ollie Watkins scored twice at the Etihad to complete the double, Villa’s first league double over City since 1962-63.
The catch is that Watkins has since left for Al Hilal, and City now have a new coach. The psychological edge belongs to Villa, but the personnel from those wins has changed a lot.
Key Players and Aston Villa vs Man City Lineups
The official Aston Villa vs Man City lineup will come out about an hour before kick-off, so around 4:00 PM IST. Both clubs play in Europe that week, so expect some rotation and treat any predicted XI with caution until then.
Aston Villa players to watch
- Nicolas Jackson: Scored at Tottenham and against Brentford. He is Villa’s main goal threat now that Watkins has gone.
- John McGinn: The captain’s energy sets Villa’s tempo, and he scored against Brentford.
- Johan Manzambi: The club-record signing opened his Villa account at Spurs. He can drive the ball through midfield.
- Emiliano Buendía: Scored a long-range goal at Spurs and gives Villa craft between the lines.
Man City players to watch
- Erling Haaland: Still the reference point. He scored at Anfield and remains the main finisher.
- Jeremy Doku: In form after scoring at Liverpool and starting the move for the opener. His one-on-one dribbling tests any full-back.
- Rayan Cherki: Gives City creativity in tight spaces and scored the third at Anfield.
- Elliot Anderson: A key figure in midfield, who helped City hold firm early at Anfield.
What to check when the team sheets drop
- Does Emery start Jackson alone up front, or pair him with another forward?
- How many changes does Maresca make after the midweek game with AEK Athens?
- Is Phil Foden back in the XI? He was sent off early in the Manchester derby in September.
Tactical Battle: What to Expect at Villa Park
On paper this is first against 16th. In reality, Villa Park has been where City’s best runs have come unstuck before, and Emery knows how to set a trap.
Expect City to have most of the ball. Maresca likes patient build-up through the middle, with full-backs tucking in and wide players such as Doku isolating defenders. Villa are more likely to defend in a compact mid-block and break quickly through Jackson and Manzambi.
Three areas could decide it:
- Villa’s high line against Haaland. Emery’s teams often hold an aggressive offside line. One mistimed step and Haaland is through.
- Doku against Villa’s right side. If Doku gets one-on-one repeatedly, Villa will need a second defender to help, which opens space elsewhere.
- Set pieces. When a side spends long spells without the ball, corners and free-kicks become its best chance. Villa will need to make every one count.
Our view: City’s form makes them favourites, but Villa’s record in this fixture and the early kick-off after a European week make an upset possible. A narrow City win feels most likely, with a draw the main alternative. This is opinion, not a tip, and results on 17-18 October and in midweek may change the picture.
Man City Next Match After Villa
City’s schedule stays busy after this trip. Times below are in IST; UK clocks go back on 25 October, so the gap to India becomes five and a half hours.
| Date | Fixture | Competition | Time (IST) |
| Sat 31 Oct | Man City vs Brighton | Premier League | 8:30 PM |
| Wed 4 Nov | RB Leipzig vs Man City | Champions League | 1:30 AM (Thu 5 Nov) |
| Sat 7 Nov | Nottingham Forest vs Man City | Premier League | Kick-off time to be confirmed |
Final Thoughts
Aston Villa vs Man City is a clash of two very different starts. City arrive with a perfect league record so far under Maresca, a settled attack and real momentum after Anfield. Villa are still putting together a new team after losing Watkins, Rogers, Konsa and Tielemans, and they need a first home league win. History gives Villa hope: they beat City twice last season. For Indian fans, the 5:00 PM IST kick-off makes this an easy one to watch live, with lineups due around 4:00 PM. Kheloexch will follow the result and what it means for both clubs once the final whistle goes.
FAQs
What time is Aston Villa vs Man City in India?
The match kicks off at 5:00 PM IST on Saturday 24 October 2026. That is 12:30 PM in the UK and 3:30 PM in the UAE. Check on match day in case of a late change to the broadcast slot.
Where to watch Aston Villa vs Man City in India?
Premier League matches in India are generally shown on Star Sports channels, with live streaming on JioHotstar. Broadcast picks can change week to week, so confirm the listing on the day of the game.
When will the Aston Villa vs Man City lineups be announced?
Clubs confirm their starting XIs about an hour before kick-off, so expect both lineups around 11:30 AM UK time, or 4:00 PM IST. Earlier predicted lineups are only estimates, especially after a European week.
Who won the last Aston Villa vs Man City match?
Aston Villa won 2-1 at the Etihad on 24 May 2026, with Ollie Watkins scoring twice after Antoine Semenyo’s opener. Villa also won 1-0 at Villa Park in October 2025, completing a league double over City.
What is Man City’s next match after Aston Villa?
After Villa, City host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday 31 October at 8:30 PM IST. They then travel to RB Leipzig in the Champions League on 4 November and visit Nottingham Forest on 7 November.
