베르나르두는 시티 소속 460번째 경기에서 주장 완장을 차고 나선다. 이는 펩 체제에서 어떤 선수보다도 많은 출전 기록이다. 존 스톤스 역시 구단에서의 10년을 마무리하며 295번째 경기에 출전한다.
시즌 최종전을 앞둔 시티는 이미 프리미어리그 2위를 확정 지었으며, 이번 시즌 FA컵과 카라바오컵 우승으로 펩의 10년간 트로피 수는 총 20개가 됐다.
빡빡했던 시즌 막판 일정 이후, 펩은 본머스전 무승부 당시 선발 명단에서 무려 9명을 교체했다. 두 경기 모두 선발로 나서는 선수는 베르나르두와 앙투앙 세메뇨뿐이다.
라인업
시티 선발 명단
트래포드, 루이스, 스톤스, 디아스, 아케, 니코, 베르나르두(C), 라인더르스, 포든, 사비뉴, 세메뇨
벤치: 베티넬리, 마르무시, 코바치치, 셰르키, 도쿠, 아이트누리, 그바르디올, 누네스, 알레인
아스톤 빌라 선발 명단
비조트, 가르시아, 린델로프, 밍스(C), 마트센, 보가르드, 루이스, 바클리, 베일리, 부엔디아, 왓킨스
벤치: 라이트, 캐시, 맥긴, 틸레만스, 디뉴, 토레스, 오나나, 헤밍스, 버로우스
How we line-up
No doubt Guardiola will want to go out on a win to cap an extraordinary time with the Club.
Villa meanwhile, will want to mark their Europa League triumph after winning a major trophy for the first time in 30 years.
James Trafford returns in goal for City with a back-four that is likely to be Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake as full-backs either side of a defensive pairing of Ruben Dias and Stones.
Nico will take the holding midfield role with a flexible midfield of Bernardo, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden with Savinho and Semenyo lead the attack.
Etihad celebration
There is set to be a record crowd here today to say goodbye to three City legends.
Under development since late 2023 the newly expanded North Stand adds over 7,000 new seats to Etihad Stadium, bringing the stadium capacity to over 61,000.
And appropriately it has been renamed ‘The Pep Guardiola Stand’ as he takes charges for a last time.
Today is set to break City’s Premier League attendance record set on the final day of the 2023/24 season when 55,097 fans were here as we secured our title for a record fourth successive year with a win over West Ham in May 2024.
Emotional day
It’s the end of an era today and will be a day of celebration as well as one where a lot of tears will be shed.
We have an extraordinary decade under Guardiola and sadly it comes to an end after an unprecedent period of success.
On top of that we’re losing two of our greatest players of all time with Stones and Bernardo bidding a fond farewell.
There’s too many memories to recall from three of the greatest servants of all time but there was one famous end of season clash against Aston Villa that will forever.
That 3-2 victory on the final day of the 2021/22 campaign when we fought back from two goals down to win the Premier League is just one reminder of everything that has been achieved in the greatest decade of the Club’s history.
Match stats
City have won 19 of our last 20 Premier League home games against Aston Villa, winning each of the last 15 since April 2007.
Aston Villa have won three of their last five Premier League games against City and are looking to complete a league double over us for the first time since 1962/63.
We have won our final league match in eight of our previous nine seasons under Pep Guardiola, losing the other when we were already champions at Brentford in 2022/23. We have won our last six when finishing the season at home since 2012/13.
Villa have lost their final Premier League match of the season more often than any other side (16), including a 3-2 loss at the Etihad in 2021/22.
When playing their final league match of the season away from home, Villa have won just one of their last 27 games and are winless in 13 since a 3-1 win at Chelsea in 2001/02.
City are unbeaten in our last 15 Premier League games since January. Only in 2023/24 have we had a longer unbeaten run at the end of a Premier League campaign.
Following their 4-2 win against Liverpool last time out, Aston Villa are looking to win consecutive Premier League games for the first time since a run of eight in November/December.
With 27 goals already, Erling Haaland is likely to win his third Premier League golden boot in four seasons in the competition. He would be the fifth player to win the award as many times, after Thierry Henry (4), Mohamed Salah (4), Alan Shearer (3) and Harry Kane (3).
Ollie Watkins has been involved in eight goals in his last nine Premier League appearances (six goals, two assists), just one fewer than in his first 29 this season (eight goals, one assist).
Join us at Co-Op Live for the ‘After Party’
To mark the achievements of Manchester City men’s, women’s and academy teams during the 25/26 season, we can confirm that an open top bus parade will take place on Monday 25th May, followed by ‘The After Party’ a special celebration event at Co-op Live.
Event Information
Date: Monday 25 May
Doors Open: 15:00 (UK)
Parade Show begins: 16:00 (UK)
Final Entry: 18:00 (UK)
Player Arrival at Co-op Live: 18:30 (UK)
Event Closes: 20:00 (UK)
