Did you see the sky‑blue streak finally snap? Emery’s Aston Villa put an end to Manchester City’s perfect run, crushing their 7‑game winning streak with a 2‑1 win. A double from Nico Jackson and crucial saves by Suzuki handed the co‑Champions League leaders three points.
Haaland, missing from City’s 5‑1 thrashing of AEK, returned alongside Guéhi, Ndiaye and Doku. On the bench, Phil Foden, who netted a hat‑trick last Tuesday, watched. Villa made four changes – Cash, Maatsen, Kamara and Manzambi came in for Mings, Barkley, Buendía and Mbaye, all starters in the 3‑1 win over Norwegian Viking.
Another Guéhi error
Jackson opened the scoring six minutes in, capitalising on a Guéhi mistake. Former Bayern Munich youngster struck a low‑driven shot past Donnarumma after Elliot Anderson set him up. The thunderous finish jolted City, forcing them back onto the defensive end.
Ndiaye proved a nightmare for Maatsen, testing Suzuki with a left‑footed strike in the 13th minute. Eight minutes later Cherki met the Japanese keeper, who saved the curling attempt in two quick motions.
The clearest chance of the first half arrived in the 28th minute when Ndiaye’s left‑footed effort clipped the right post and fell out. After the restart, Maresca pulled Guéhi and Cherki off the pitch.
Can Villa build on this upset to challenge for the title next season?
With Rico Lewis and Foden pushing forward, the deadlock was broken. Enzo flicked a short side‑footed free‑kick to Ndiaye, who laid it off to Haaland. The striker rose above Lindelöf and headed home for his seventh straight league goal, rewarding City’s persistence as they met the woodwork again at the 56th minute.
Gvardiol unleashed a early rebound that Suzuki and the crossbar forced into a corner, showcasing the Japanese keeper’s reflexes. Later, Jackson’s second strike, set up by Mbaye’s fresh entry, turned a potential 1‑2 into a 2‑1 lead. For my money, the Japanese goalkeeper was the unsung hero of the match. Donnarumma could have done more, but the late curling effort slipped through his fingers.
Aston Villa
Manchester City
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Aston Villa: Suzuki; Cash, Lindelöf, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Joao Gomes (Goretzka, 82′); Edward (Mbaye, 59′), McGinn (Buendía, 66′), Manzambi (Barkley, 66′) and Nico Jackson (Madjo, 82′)
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Khusanov, Guéhi (Rico Lewis, 46′), Rúben Dias, Gvardiol; Anderson, Enzo; Ndiaye (McAidoo, 69′), Cherki (Foden, 46′), Doku and Haaland
Goals: 1-0 Jackson (6′), 1-1 Haaland (52′), 2-1 Jackson (60′)
Yellow cards: Guéhi (32′), Cherki (38′), Manzambi (54′), Cash (55′), Anderson (74′), McAidoo (76′), Madjo (83′), Buendía (95′)
Referee: Peter Bankes
Attendance: 36,743 at Villa Park.
City never recovered from that blow, managing only a dangerous header from Haaland that rattled Maatsen’s crossbar before the final whistle.