Manchester City saw their unbeaten streak stopped at five as Matty Cash’s terrific volley and Unai Emery’s brave defense outlasted the visitors in a 1-0 win for Aston Villa at Villa Park.
WATCH — Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Villa blocked 10 City shot attempts and withstood a vibrant but off-kilter Man City attack, keeping a clean sheet and earning all three points despite being out-shot 18-9.
City now sit six points off leaders Arsenal and live in fourth place, ahead of neighbors Manchester United on goal differential.
Villa pull into eighth place with 15 points, just one fewer than their Sunday visitors City.
Service woes, Emery’s tactics stop Man City streak
This was a dedicated defense from Unai Emery, and the early goal allowed Villa more luxury in how they attacked the remaining 71 minutes. There were no passengers as part of Villa’s set-up, and Pau Torres, Emiliano Martinez, and Lucas Digne stood out for their work rates and execution. That said, City could’ve easily come back to win but their playmakers struggled with the penultimate ball. For all of the illogical “Does City lean too much on Erling Haaland?” talk in the press this week, this was about City’s failure to find Haaland in dangerous places. They often picked out the right ball but sent it too shy or too far for the Norwegian’s massive reach. Phil Foden and Matheus Nunes stood out for their creativity, but Pep Guardiola may lament using Tijjani Reijnders in place of Rodri even if Nico Gonzalez was coming through a knock to his foot and Mateo Kovacic is still waiting to reclaim full fitness. Fine margins.
What’s next?
City go to Swansea City on Wednesday in the fourth round of the League Cup, then host Bournemouth at 11:30am ET Sunday in the Premier League.
Villa get nearly a full week to prepare for a 4pm ET Saturday trip Liverpool at Anfield.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10 am ET, Sunday
Venue: Villa Park — Birmingham
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Aston Villa vs Manchester City final score: 1-0
Matty Cash 19'
Aston Villa vs Manchester City live updates — by Nick Mendola
Erling Haaland scores but flag is up
The Norwegian’s nether regions clattered into the goal post and he’s shaking out his legs and accompanying body parts after sliding a ball over the line only to see that Omar Marmoush, just into the game, was offside when he raced onto Matheus Nunes’ pass to find Haaland.
Six minutes’ stoppage.
Another City move
Rayan Cherki enters for Reijnders in the 76th minute.
Three City subs
Pep’s run out of patience and will remove Oscar Bobb, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones for Nico O’Reilly, Nico Gonzalez, and Jeremy Doku in the 61st minute.
City on front foot
Pau Torres makes an unbelievable goal line clearance, facing his frame from 1.5 yards away.
City are having their most dangerous spell of the game at the hour mark.
Halftime — Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Unai Emery’s set-up is frustrating the visitors, who are keeping more than half of the ball and have a 6-2 shots edge.
Rodri’s absence being felt, but Pep Guardiola opted for Tijjani Reijnders instead of recovering Mateo Kovacic and knocked Nico Gonzalez. They are both on the bench.
Should be 2-nil!
More good stuff from Villa, as Watkins cues up a blocked chance for Sancho.
The ball is recycled to the top of the 18 and John McGinn puts a charge into a low, left-footed shot that just burns wide of the far post.
Emiliano Buendia injury
The Argentine has removed his right boot and is getting treatment on the turf.
The very busy, electric Evann Guessand appears to be warming up.
His boot’s still off and the limp is heavy as he leaves the game, yet it’s Jadon Sancho who is into the game in the 29th minute.
Haaland break!
A long ball finds Bernardo Silva, who sends Erling Haaland toward goal with a mark a yard off of him.
Haaland has a tough angle and his left-footed finish is ready well by a lunging Emiliano Martinez to keep the lead in Villa’s hands.
Matty Cash goal — Aston Villa 1-0 Man City
This is some hit off a well-worked corner kick routine.
Matty Cash skirts along the top of the 18, takes a touch past Bernardo Silva and spins off a shot before Erling Haaland can close him down.
It’s a gorgeous shot from the Polish international, curling inside the far post.
Villa attack!
Sharp, short passes lead to a buzz at Villa Park and a shot from Lucas Digne that is blocked by John Stones.
Strange start
A little sloppy with some moments of promise for both sides, but nothing of power.
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Kamara, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins
Manchester City lineup
Donnarumma, Nunes, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Reijnders, Silva, Bobb, Foden, Savinho, Haaland
Aston Villa vs Manchester City preview — by Andy Edwards
On one hand, Pep Guardiola’s side has been leads the league in goals scored after eight games (17). On the other hand, Erling Haaland, who already has 11 goals (five more than anyone else in the PL), is the only Man City player to score more than once. Haaland has scored City’s last five league goals and eight of their last nine, spanning five games since the Manchester derby in mid-September. David Moyes summer up Haaland’s dominance quite well after he scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over Everton last weekend. “I wish he was somewhere else. Let’s be fair, most managers will be thinking the same, won’t they? I thought in the game we did a really good job on him. And then you say, ‘How can you say that? He’s just got himself two goals.’”
Aston Villa are riding a three-game winning streak of their own after shaking off the early-season cobwebs (no wins and just one goal scored in their first five games) and look ready to re-enter the European race once again this season. All was looking quite well for Unai Emery’s side until they were unexpectedly beaten 2-1 by Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday.
Aston Villa team news, focus
OUT: Youri Tielemans (lower leg), Andres Garcia (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Lucas Digne (foot)
Manchester City team news, focus
OUT: Rodri (hamstring - MORE) | QUESTIONABLE: Nico Gonzalez (foot), Abdukodir Khusanov (foot)
Aston Villa vs Manchester City prediction
Four of the last six goals Villa have conceded in the PL have come via set piece, as if Haaland needed another easy avenue by which to bludgeon his opponents. Aston Villa 1-3 Manchester City.
