Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa: Pep Guardiola’s side end difficult week with win, three points off Arsenal

Manchester City moved to within three points of leaders Arsenal with a convincing 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium.

The hosts dominated throughout and took the lead inside four minutes when Rodri headed home Riyad Mahrez’s corner at the near post.

Ilkay Gundogan and Jack Grealish were then thwarted by the impressive Emiliano Martinez in the visiting goal before Gundogan tapped home the second after good work by Erling Haaland on 39 minutes.

City were in total control and pretty much made sure of the points on the stroke of half time when Mahrez coolly fired home a spot kick after a foul on Grealish.

Haaland did not return for the second half as a precaution relating to a possible thigh problem, but City still created chances with substitute Julian Alvarez going close on a couple of occasions.

Ollie Watkins had been feeding on scraps for Villa but he made the most of a rare opportunity just past the hour when he slipped Douglas Luiz’s pass into the far corner.

Substitute Coutinho then forced an excellent late save from Ederson but Pep Guardiola’s side held on to secure victory.

The win helps City move back above Manchester United into second spot, three points adrift of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners having played a game more, with the top two set to lock horns at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Villa stay 11th and also take on the Gunners at Villa Park when they return to action next Saturday.

Talking point – All eyes on Wednesday

It hasn’t been a great week for Manchester City as their disappointing loss at Tottenham last Sunday was followed by the news that the Premier League were charging them with more than 100 breaches of its financial rules from 2009-2018.

Guardiola gave a defiant pre-match press conference and the City fans offered him a true hero’s welcome here, while reserving boos for the PL anthem.

City’s players also responded with a much more convincing display that puts them firmly back in the title picture with that crunch match against leaders Arsenal in midweek taking on even more significance now.

Guardiola has created a type of ‘siege mentality’ by suggesting the other 19 clubs in the top-flight have accused them of off-the-pitch irregularity, but the key factor here was that he and his players backed up his bold words by doing some more relevant talking on it. If they can do that again at the Emirates, the title race will well and truly hot up as a victory would see them move to the summit.

Roll on Wednesday, we can’t wait!

Player of the match – Rodri (Man City)

Set City off with the opener and produced an all-action display at the heart of the midfield.

Player Ratings

Match Highlights

4’ – GOAL! Man City 1-0 Aston Villa (Rodri): It’s a perfect start for the home team as Rodri’s near-post header from a left-wing corner squeezes past Martinez at his near post.

11’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Gundogan races on to Rodri’s pass but sees his low attempt brilliantly diverted past the post by Martinez’s right boot.

39’ – GOAL! Man City 2-0 Aston Villa(Gundogan): Gundogan taps home at the far post after superb play from Haaland. The big Norwegian’s pace caused confusion in the Villa defence before he showed great composure to beat his man by the right byline and drill a low ball across the six-yard box for the German to gobble up.

45+1’ – GOAL! Man City 3-0 Aston Villa (Mahrez): Mahrez sends Martinez the wrong way with a cool spot kick after Grealish was tumbled by Ramsey in the area.

61’ – GOAL! Man City 3-1 Aston Villa (Watkins): Luiz robs Bernardo Silva and plays Watkins through to slip a low shot beyond Ederson.

66’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Grealish charges free on the left and dinks a lovely cross to the far post where Alvarez arrives on cue, but his goal-bound header is brilliantly blocked by Konsa.

82’ – ASTON VILLA CHANCE! Coutinho lets fly with a stunning curler from the left flank that forces Ederson to tip over the top at full stretch.

84’ – MAN CITY CHANCE! Mahrez surges on to Alvarez’s cut back but somehow contrives to blast a gilt-edged chance over the bar.

90+2’ – ASTON VILLA CHANCE! Duran almost sets up a barnstorming finale with a thumping shot that smacks the crossbar. Unlucky!

Key Stats

• Rodri netted his fourth goal in eight appearances v Aston Villa. It is the most he has scored against a single opponent in his senior career.
• Manchester City have now won 13 straight home league games against Villa.