Rodri’s Importance to Man City: What the Numbers Show About Suspended Star Ahead of Aston Villa Game

• Rodri will miss the Aston Villa game due to a one-match suspension
• He picked up a yellow card in the 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur
• Manchester City have struggled without Rodri in the starting line-up

Manchester City will have their work cut out for them against Aston Villa this Wednesday.

The defending Premier League champions will miss the services of Rodri and Jack Grealish, who both got suspended after picking up yellow cards in the game against Tottenham Hotspur.

Sports Brief examines Rodri’s importance to Manchester City, comparing the club's stats and records with and without the Spanish star.

Man City’s record with Rodri

There is no questioning the fact that Rodri is a vital cog in the Manchester City machine. He has developed into a master playmaker for the club. He is also the chief tempo-setter for City in their midfield.

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The numbers prove that City are a better team with the Spaniard in their line-up. They have won 73.3 per cent of the 150 league matches they played with him included.

Their defence is solid, with Rodri in the side, conceding an average of just 0.8 goals per contest. City allowed an average of just 7.1 shots per match when Rodri was in the heart of their midfield.

More importantly, City averaged 2.3 points per match with the midfielder in their lineup.

Man City’s record without Rodri

Compare those numbers to when Rodri did not play for City and you will see his importance to the defending Premier League champs.

City won just 56.2 per cent of the 16 league matches they played without the Spaniard in the line-up and conceded more goals with him not in midfield to protect the backline, allowing 1.1 per match.

City’s opponents also had more attempts, averaging 8.3 shots per game.

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Overall, Manchester City averaged just 1.8 points per game in their matches without Rodri.

City struggled mightily when Rodri served a three-match ban earlier this season after picking up a red card in the game against Nottingham Forest.

They lost all three of those games, including back-to-back league matches against Wolves and Arsenal, per The Athletic.

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Haaland's angry reaction after Tottenham match

Sports Brief recently reported on Erling Haaland's furious reaction after the City vs. Spurs clash.

He stormed off the pitch following the 3-3 draw, even shoulder-bumping an opposition player.

Haaland and his City teammates were angered by a refereeing decision that went against them.