Villarreal vs Manchester City: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Bwin's detailed preview for Villarreal vs Manchester City in the Champions League. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 20:00 BST match.

• Fixture: Villarreal vs Manchester City

• Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2025

• Kick-off: 20:00 BST

• Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica

Match Prediction: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester City

Villarreal, coming off a draw against Juventus and a loss to Tottenham, will look to exploit their home advantage. Their recent performances suggest a team capable of holding their own against strong opposition, likely focusing on a solid defensive structure while looking to counter-attack.

Manchester City, having drawn against Monaco and won against Napoli, will aim to dominate possession and press high up the pitch. The Citizens' recent form indicates they might struggle to break down a well-organised Villarreal side, potentially leading to a closely contested match.

The game could hinge on Villarreal's ability to absorb pressure and hit Manchester City on the break. If Manchester City can maintain their intensity and control the tempo, they might find gaps in Villarreal's defence. However, Villarreal's resilience at home could see them frustrate City's attacking efforts, possibly resulting in a low-scoring affair.

Villarreal's recent form shows a team that can compete with top European sides, as evidenced by their draw against Juventus. However, their loss to Tottenham indicates vulnerabilities, particularly away from home.

At home, they might be more confident and organised, potentially leading to a strong defensive performance against Manchester City. Their ability to secure a point against Juventus suggests they could hold their own in this match.

Recent Champions League Results:

• Draw: 2-2 vs Juventus (H)

• Loss: 0-1 vs Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Manchester City's recent results demonstrate their capability to secure victories against strong teams, as seen in their win over Napoli. However, their draw against Monaco highlights potential issues in breaking down well-organised defences.

This could be a concern against a Villarreal side that has shown resilience. City's attacking prowess remains a significant threat, but they may need to be more clinical to secure a win.

Recent Champions League Results:

• Draw: 2-2 vs Monaco (A)

• Win: 2-0 vs Napoli (H)

In their previous encounters, Manchester City have had the upper hand, winning 3-0 at Villarreal and securing a 2-1 victory at home. These results suggest City's dominance in past meetings, but Villareal can sometimes be a tough nut to crack. Villarreal will be looking to overturn this record and secure a positive result on their home turf.

• Villarreal 0-3 Manchester City (02 Nov 2011)

• Manchester City 2-1 Villarreal (18 Oct 2011)

• Pau Cabanes (Cruciate Ligament) - Out
• Logan Costa (Cruciate Ligament) - Out
• Willy Kambwala (Hamstring) - Out
• Gerard Moreno (Hamstring) - Doubt
• Ayoze Pérez (Adductor) - Doubt
• Juan Foyth (Muscle) - Doubt
• Santi Comesaña (Discomfort) - Doubt
• Luiz Júnior (Discomfort) - Doubt

• Rayan Cherki (Thigh) - Out

• Rayan Aït-Nouri (Ankle) - Doubt

• Rodri (Muscle) - Doubt

• Abdukodir Khusanov (Knock) - Doubt

• Omar Marmoush (Knee) - Doubt

• Predicted lineup: Tenas, Mouriño, Marín, Veiga, Pedraza, Gueye, Parejo, Comesaña (if fit), Pépé, Buchanan, Mikautadze

Villarreal's predicted lineup suggests a focus on maintaining a solid midfield presence with Parejo and Comesaña aiming to control the game's tempo. The inclusion of Buchanan and Pépé out wide indicates an intent to exploit counter-attacking opportunities.

• Predicted lineup: Donnarumma, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, Rodri (if fit), Silva, Foden, Reijnders, Doku, Haaland

Manchester City's lineup points to a strategy of dominating possession with Rodri and Foden in midfield, looking to create chances for Haaland. The presence of Doku and Silva on the wings suggests an emphasis on width and creativity in attack.

• Renato Veiga vs Erling Haaland: This matchup pits Villarreal's centre-back Veiga against City's formidable striker Haaland, promising an intense battle from start to finish.

• Dani Parejo vs Rodri (If fit): Villarreal's midfielder Parejo will need to outmanoeuvre Manchester City's Rodri to disrupt their midfield control.

• Pape Gueye (Villarreal): Gueye's ability to drive forward and create scoring opportunities makes him a crucial player for Villarreal's attack.

• Phil Foden (Manchester City): Foden's creativity and goal-scoring threat from the wing make him a vital asset for Manchester City's offensive strategy.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.