City are spraying it around nicely until they get near the Villa area, and run into the vistors' 10-man defence. The home side almost get lucky when a ball drops near Sergio Aguero in the box but it ends up ricocheting into the grateful arms of Brad Guzan.

Mark Astley: At the Etihad watching City playing within themselves, again!

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Villa are taking their time over every dead ball, much to the frustration of City striker Sergio Aguero. Only another hour to hold out for Remi Garde's men - on this evidence, they might just do it.

Garth Crooks
Former Spurs striker on Final Score

"Manchester City are composed and are not in a hurry to do anything. They are taking their time about things. 

"However, I do think they are lacking urgency; although they do have the players to pull goals out of the bag."

Image source, PA

It's taken 25 minutes, but Villa have had a shot... not only that, they almost scored too. 

It took a brilliant save from Joe Hart to keep out Jordan Ayew's snap shot after the ball broke to him on the edge of the area. Still, some encouragement for the visitors.

Villa are defending well, but City are still finding gaps in their packed defence. Sergio Aguero and Wilfried Bony link up for the first time today, with Bony teeing up Aguero for a low shot that fizzes just wide.

So, 22 minutes played. City have had 80% of possession so far and five shots, including two on target. Villa are yet to have an effort at goal of any kind but the score is still 0-0, so they will be delighted.

Image source, Reuters

Micah Richards has been late with a couple of crunching challenges so far and I think another one will see him go into referee Lee Mason's book. No cards for his foul on David Silva, though, and City make a right old mess of the resulting free-kick, failing to test Brad Guzan.

Here come City again. Yaya Toure works the opening for Sergio Aguero, who chests down the ball before hammering in a first-time shot. Brad Guzan, at full stretch, claws it to safety.

Jimmy Armfield
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live

"What a miss! A good run from Clichy down the left, and I thought Bony was a certain scorer with the faintest touch. He really should have scored there."

Another chance for City, and again they should score.

This time it is a bad miss rather than a great save that means the score is still 0-0... Wilfried Bony somehow fires wide with the goal gaping as he met Gael Clichy's inviting low cross.

It is City who are still dominating this game, though, and they really should be ahead. 

Sergio Aguero does everything right, bringing down a high ball on the right of the area, cutting in with one touch and then clipping the ball towards the top corner... but he is denied what looks a certain goal by a superb reaction save by Brad Guzan - he only got his fingertips to it, but it was enough to turn it over the bar.

Image source, Reuters

Jimmy Armfield
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live

"Bony could do with a good outing here, he has not really endeared himself to City fans and he came with a lot of expectations."

Hang on, Villa have got the ball. Well, Alan Hutton has it, to be precise, and he seems to have been told to charge forward - he does pretty well too, sprinting from his own half and into the City area.

Almost on his own, he has brought Villa's possession percentage today up to 8%.

Image source, PA

City have a corner, their first of the game. Villa are still not looking like improving their 2% possession but they do manage to clear their lines when Jesus Navas sends the ball in.

Jimmy Armfield
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live

"Villa already have three central defenders quite early, that tells you where Garde sees the threat from Manchester City. If they keep Aguero, Yaya Toure and Silva marked tight, then have a go at it, you never know."  

City have had 98% of possession in the first five minutes. They still haven't got into Villa's area though.

Image source, Reuters

So it is up to City to find a way of breaking down Villa's massed defence. Sergio Aguero looks up for it - he brings a ripple of applause from his fans after chasing a lost cause in the corner.

Right then, I think we already know how this one is being played out - Villa are defending very deep and all 11 of their players are in their own half pretty much all of the time.

City have seen most of the ball so far, but have not got near the Villa area.