3 years ago
49
ARTICLE AD BOX
Haaland set up Gundogan to score his third Premier League goal of the seasonThree first-half goals helped Manchester City see off Aston Villa in their first game since being accused of more than 100 rule breaches by the Premier League.
Those allegations have made it a testing week off the pitch for the defending champions but they responded in impressive style with some vibrant early attacking play, and were able to survive a slightly nervy finish.
It was not quite a vintage display by Pep Guardiola's side, who will go top of the table if they beat leaders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, but they were much more like their old selves.
The noisy atmosphere certainly helped. Guardiola had issued a defiant response to the charges before the game, and City's fans reacted in similar fashion at a vibrant Etihad Stadium, singing songs about their situation and in support of their manager, and also the club's owner Sheikh Mansour.
City's players appeared galvanised too, and made the perfect start when Rodri headed home Riyad Mahrez's corner, but they had to wait until just before the break to add to their lead.
Calum Chambers' attempt to cut out a Kevin de Bruyne through-ball saw him head the ball beyond his on-rushing keeper Emi Martinez and, although Erling Haaland could not convert from a tight angle, he had the composure to look up and find Ilkay Gundogan for a tap-in.
Mahrez made it 3-0 from the penalty spot soon afterwards, after Jacob Ramsey had clipped Jack Grealish inside the box.
That should have been the end of Villa's hopes, but they were gifted a way back into the game just after the hour mark.
Bernardo Silva's error allowed Ollie Watkins space to run through and he beat Ederson with a cool finish.
City still had the cushion of a two-goal lead but continued to be sloppy when they played out from the back and were grateful to see a long-range effort from Philippe Coutinho deflected just over, while Jhon Duran hit the bar with a fierce volley in the dying seconds.
- Reaction from Man City v Aston Villa
- Go straight to all the best Manchester City content
- Visit our Aston Villa page
More follows.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Manchester City
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number14Player nameLaporte
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias- Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number8Player nameGündogan
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva- Squad number9Player nameHaaland
Squad number26Player nameMahrez- Squad number10Player nameGrealish
- Squad number6Player nameAké
- Squad number19Player nameÁlvarez
- Squad number25Player nameAkanji
Squad number47Player nameFoden
Aston Villa
Squad number1Player nameE Martínez
Squad number18Player nameYoung
Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Squad number16Player nameChambers
Squad number27Player nameDigne
Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
Squad number44Player nameKamara
Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Squad number10Player nameBuendía
Squad number31Player nameBailey
Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Squad number2Player nameCash
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Squad number15Player nameÁlex Moreno
Squad number22Player nameDurán
Squad number23Player namePhilippe Coutinho
Line-ups
Man City
Formation 3-2-4-1
- 31Ederson
- 2Walker
- 14Laporte
- 3Rúben DiasBooked at 41minsSubstituted forAkanjiat 45'minutes
- 16Rodri
- 8Gündogan
- 17De Bruyne
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 9HaalandSubstituted forÁlvarezat 45'minutes
- 26MahrezSubstituted forAkéat 85'minutes
- 10GrealishSubstituted forFodenat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Phillips
- 6Aké
- 18Ortega
- 19Álvarez
- 21Gómez
- 25Akanji
- 47Foden
- 80Palmer
- 82Lewis
Aston Villa
Formation 4-4-2
- 1E Martínez
- 18YoungSubstituted forCoutinhoat 76'minutes
- 4KonsaBooked at 63mins
- 16Chambers
- 27DigneBooked at 37minsSubstituted forDuránat 60'minutes
- 41J RamseySubstituted forCashat 76'minutes
- 44Kamara
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 10BuendíaSubstituted forMcGinnat 60'minutes
- 31BaileySubstituted forMoreno Loperaat 60'minutes
- 11Watkins
Substitutes
- 2Cash
- 7McGinn
- 15Moreno Lopera
- 22Durán
- 23Coutinho
- 32Dendoncker
- 38Sinisalo
- 48Zych
- 50Swinkels
Referee:Robert Jones
Attendance:53,392
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester City 3, Aston Villa 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 3, Aston Villa 1.
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Foul by Phil Foden (Manchester City).
Matty Cash (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Aston Villa. John McGinn tries a through ball, but Douglas Luiz is caught offside.
Jhon Durán (Aston Villa) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Ollie Watkins with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Julián Álvarez (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa).
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Matty Cash.
Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).
Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Julián Álvarez (Manchester City).
Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City).
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
English (US) ·