Jack Grealish and Rodri received their fifth bookings of the season in the recent match against Tottenham, resulting in their absence from Manchester City’s upcoming trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday.
In the 34th minute of the Premier League encounter, Rodri intentionally fouled Pedro Porro during a counterattack, earning himself a yellow card. Later, Grealish, who entered the game as a substitute, received a booking for delaying play by kicking the ball after a free kick was awarded.
Due to accumulating five yellow cards before City’s 19th game of the season, both players will miss the visit to Villa Park, a significant fixture for Grealish, who spent his developmental years at Aston Villa.
Rodri previously served a three-game suspension for violent conduct following his dismissal against Nottingham Forest, marking his second suspension this year. He was involved in an altercation, grabbing Morgan Gibbs-White by the throat.
During Rodri’s previous suspension, Manchester City faced losses in all three domestic games, exiting the Carabao Cup against Newcastle United and enduring defeats against Wolves and Arsenal in the league. Guardiola experimented tactically in Rodri’s absence, utilizing various midfield options like Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, and Kalvin Phillips in the defensive midfield role.
The upcoming match against Villa poses a tough challenge, especially with Rodri unavailable. Villa has an impressive record at home, winning 10 of their 11 home games in all competitions, including their last seven. Although Unai Emery’s team had to secure a late draw against Bournemouth, Ollie Watkins’ header in the 90th minute equalized the score to 2-2 at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
