Key events<\/p>\n
50 min A promising City attack ends when Anderson overhits a cross from the De Bruyne Zone.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 48 min That header, by the way, was only Haaland\u2019s ninth touch of the game. It\u2019s the tenth, eleventh and twelfth that Villa will be worried about.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 47 min Villa break after an errant pass from Lewis. Eventually Maatsen pings a shot that ricochets behind for a corner. Cash takes, Haaland wins it in the air and City eventually clear.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 46 min Back under way. Khusanov has moved infield to centre-back.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half-time substitutions<\/p>\n Manchester City have brought on Phil Foden and Rico Lewis for Marc Guehi and Rayan Cherki.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Half-time reading<\/p>\n I\u2019m looking forward to Older and Calmer, a duet between Jose and Indigo De Souza<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Half time: Aston Villa 1-0 Man City<\/p>\n A raw, compelling first half at Villa Park. Nicolas Jackson\u2019s early goal capped a ferocious start from Villa \u2013 who had more than 90% of the possession at that stage \u2013 and set up a fascinating clash of styles.<\/p>\n City dominated the ball for the rest of the half: the impressive Iliman Ndiaye hit the post and was one of two City players to have penalty appeals turned down. But Villa, with Jackson and John McGinn outstanding, were a constant menace in transition.<\/p>\n In short: cracking game, more please!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45 min One minute of added time. Cherki\u2019s curving pass towards Haaland is cut out by the last defender Lindelof. There was a lot of grass behind Lindelof but Cherki didn\u2019t quite get the pass right.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44 min Ndiaye\u2019s deflected cross is claimed at the second attempt by Suzuki. City\u2019s wide players have been a big threat.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 42 min Pound for pound, Unai Emery is the best manager in the world: discuss.<\/p>\n (I don\u2019t know whether I think this, but it\u2019s surely up for discussion. It\u2019s astonishing that he has them playing this well so soon after losing Martinez, Konsa, Digne, Rogers, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins.)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>40 min: Great tackle by Dias!<\/p>\n Alysson moves elegantly into the area from the right, hugging the ball on his left foot. He zig-zags between Dias and another City player and is about to shoot \u2013 probably score \u2013 when Dias makes a fabulous recovery tackle.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38 min Cherki loses the ball to Manzanbi, pulls him back to stop a Villa break and is booked. Villa have kept Cherki very quiet in his day job.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37 min There\u2019s a cracking atmosphere at Villa Park: constant hostility from the home fans, period defiance from the away end.<\/p>\n Another good run from Doku leads to a City corner. Enzo Fernandez takes, Kamara heads away at the near post.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34 min \u2026 and Manzanbi whacks it over the bar. A poor effort by his standards.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33 min The free-kick is just outside the area, slightly to the left of centre\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.06 EDT<\/p>\n 32 min Guehi is booked for fouling Jackson just outside the area. It was a bit of a wrestling match, and Guehi didn\u2019t think he\u2019d committed the foul. The home fans, by contrast, thought it should have been a Dogso red card. I\u2019m pretty sure there was a covering defender.<\/p>\n With Villa seeing very little of the ball in the last 25 minutes, Nicolas Jackson has been fantastic.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31 min Now City want a penalty when Maatsen, who is really struggling, misses a lunging tackle at Ndiaye, who then goes over. Hard to tell whether he was fouled or whether he slipped. It was clumsy from Maatsen but it\u2019s been cleared by VAR.<\/p>\n Iliman Ndiaye is up-ended by Ian Maatsen. Photograph: Paul Childs\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.08 EDT<\/p>\n 31 min \u201cI\u2019ve come late to the MBM and need to warn you not to put ideas into people\u2019s heads,\u201d writes Richard Hirst. \u201cAt the rate Man City are collecting points a 50 point deduction would be nowhere near enough to ensure that they finish below Fulham.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30 min Manzanbi goes over in the area after running into Anderson. The Villa fans want a penalty but the referee isn\u2019t interested; nor are VAR. It looked like Anderson just stood his ground.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29 min \u201cFantastic reading in the lee of Mt Ventoux that Villa have taken the lead,\u201d writes Mike Daniels. \u201cNowhere to watch but thanks for the live report.\u201d<\/p>\n You are most welcome.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>28 min: Ndiaye hits the post!<\/p>\n Ndiaye been so sharp on the right. He cuts inside again, away from Maatsen, and sweps a left-foot curler across goal from the edge of the area. It beats the diving Suzuki, bounces up and hits the outside of the far post.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26 min A quick free-kick from McGinn, whose football brain is as big as his backside, leads to a corner that is punched away by Donnarumma. Terrific game, this – the clash of styles, the tempo, the slight edge that is going to lead to a shoving match any minute now.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 24 min Another good run from Doku forces Villa into some desperate defending. They are simultaneously hanging on at 1-0, and threateningt to make it 2-0 whenever they break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 21 min Doku crackles past Alysson on the edge of the area and fires a low cross at Cherki. He sweeps a first-time shot towards goal and Suzuki falls on the ball to his left. Comfortable save.<\/p>\n Suzuki then belts the ball downfield and out for a throw-in in the City half. \u201cIf in doubt, ping one out,\u201d says the TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19 min Enzo Fernandez appeals for a penalty after a slight shove from Joao Gomes. Villa break, with Jackson all alone. He runs at a backpedalling defence before dragging a shot wide from the edge of the area.<\/p>\n VAR don\u2019t intervene on the Fernandez incident. Gomes took a risk \u2013 both hands on the back \u2013 but I guess it falls under referee\u2019s call.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.53 EDT<\/p>\n 17 min Loads of City pressure now, though Villa are a constant threat on the break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13 min: Fine save by Suzuki! This is a cracking match. Ndiaye cuts inside from the right, beats two defenders and curls a fast left-foot shot towards the corner from 20 yards. Suzuki dives a long way to his right to push it away with both hands.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9 min That\u2019s woken City up. Gvardiol breaks into the area and reverse a cross that is deflected behind by Lindelof.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Dias\u2019s risky crossfield pass was miscontrolled on the right by Guehi, allowing McGinn to push the ball into the penalty area for Jackson. He shuffled back inside Anderson, whose attempted tackle was a bit lazy, and lifted an emphatic sidefoot finish past Donnarumma. That was so cool from Jackson, who already has six goals for Villa.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.43 EDT<\/p>\n GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Man City (Jackson 6)<\/p>\n Nicolas Jackson caps a blistering start from Aston Villa!<\/p>\n Nicolas Jackson rifles Villa into an early lead! Photograph: Morgan Harlow\/AP Photograph: Tony O Brien\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.43 EDT<\/p>\n 6 min \u2026 which almost leads to a goal. McGinn took it short on the left, got it back and picked out the onrushing Alysson on the edge of the area. His fierce first-time shot was crucially blocked by Guehi.<\/p>\n Villa have had 92% possession. Yep.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5 min Donnarumma is penalised for taking too long over the goalkick, so Villa have a bonus corner\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4 min Villa work the ball nicely across the face of the City area before Cash\u2019s cross is turned behind by Guehi. McGinn drives a long corner to Maatsen, whose sidefoot volley flies over the bar.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2 min Guehi makes a good sliding tackle on Manzambi just outside the area. Villa have started well.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1 min The players take a knee before Villa kick off from right to left as we watch.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s another big lunchtime game in the WSL. You can join Billy Munday for that.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Saying which, there\u2019s a sudden chorus of boos \u2013 I\u2019m not exactly sure why because the TV coverage is showing the Villa line-up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The players walk out of the tunnel, into the Birmingham rain. It doesn\u2019t sound espeically hostile, although you can\u2019t always tell on TV. The City fans are once again tooled up with inflatable bananas.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHi Rob,\u201d writes Gary Naylor. \u201cBarreling down the p\u00e9age from Girona to Avignon, having spent the morning in the Dali Museum (still a third rater if you ask me), I have a moral dilemma. Can we ask Grok to direct us to a bar showing the Everton match? Or would that be shaking hands with both the AI and Musk devils? It was easier when you just had to wait until Monday afternoon and pick up a Guardian International for 50 francs.\u201d<\/p>\n Heh. I remember reading Austria Vienna 5-1 Manchester United in the results section in August 1991. That was \u2013 and still is \u2013 the extent of my knowledge about the game. The papers didn\u2019t cover the game, because it was still the cricket season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.28 EDT<\/p>\n Enzo Maresca on the omission of Phil Foden<\/p>\n double quotation markThe good thing is that because we play so many games we have so many players available and to choose from. We want to keep the players fresh and fit.<\/p>\n Next!<\/p>\n Joking and next!ing aside, it\u2019s a sign of the times that Foden scored a hat-trick on Wednesday yet most people expected him to be left out today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.15 EDT<\/p>\n Elliot Anderson has been chatting to TNT Sports. When asked whether he expected City to receive another hostile reception \u2013 this is their first away game since Anfield \u2013 he chuckled and said: \u201cYeah, probably. Everywhere we go, we\u2019ll get it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n On this day in 2022\u2026 Unai Emery was appointed as Villa\u2019s head coach. The jury were released a long time ago.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Unai Emery\u2019s pre-match thoughts<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s a huge, huge challenge today. They are a team who try to dominate, to impose their positioning, their skills and their tactical structure. We must be so intense in our focus and in our actions. Then, when we have the ball, we have try to threaten them. It\u2019s a huge challenge, collectively and individually, against the best team in the league right now.<\/p>\n Unai Emery ready for \u2018huge challenge today\u2019. Photograph: David Davies\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.15 EDT<\/p>\n City have been beaten on their last three visits to Villa Park: 1-0 December 2023, 2-1 in December 2024 and 1-0 last October.<\/p>\n Villa also won at the Etihad in May, which sealed their first league double over City since 1962-63. What does it all mean?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.45 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no coincidences in life,\u201d writes Krishnamoorthy V. \u201cYour mention of The Shining in the preamble connects to The Overlook Hotel. Is it a reference to what the Premier League<\/a> will do in its assessment of City\u2019s appeal?\u201d<\/p>\n You are the caretaker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Team news: Foden back on the bench<\/p>\n Unai Emery and Enzo Maresca continue their policy of rotation, rotation, rotation. Matty Cash, Ian Maatsen, Boubacar Kamara and Johan Manzambi return to the Villa team in place of Tyrone Mings, Ibrahim Mbaye, Ross Barkley and Emi Buendia.<\/p>\n Phil Foden, who scored a hat-trick against AEK in the week, is back on the City bench. Marc Guehi, Iliman Ndiaye, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland come into the team; the other players to drop out are Rico Lewis, Allan and Floyd Samba.<\/p>\n Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Joao Gomes; Alysson, Manzambi, McGinn; Jackson.<\/p>\n Subs: Bizot, Mings, Barkley, Buendia, Mbaye, Bogarde, Goretzka, Madjo, Hemmings.<\/p>\n Man City (4-2-3-1) Donnarumma; Khusanov, Dias, Guehi, Gvardiol; Anderson, Fernandez; Ndiaye, Cherki, Doku; Haaland.<\/p>\n Subs: Rulli, Kovacic, Ait Nouri, Vitor Reis, Bouaddi, O\u2019Reilly, Foden, McAidoo, Lewis.<\/p>\n Referee Peter Bankes (Merseyside)<\/p>\n Someone\u2019s looking forward to seeing John McGinn. Photograph: Phil Oldham\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.26 EDT<\/p>\n Bayern Munich say their head coach Vincent Kompany, who was taken to hospital after collapsing during training on Friday, will be absent for \u201cweeks rather than days\u201d. Kompany is in a stable condition in hospital.<\/p>\n You can read about that, and all the rest of the day\u2019s fitba news, on our matchday live blog.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It was five months ago but it feels a lot longer. When these two sides met in May to finish the season, the contest doubled as Pep Guardiola\u2019s leaving party after 10 years in the job and twice as many trophies, an era now laden with asterisks. It must be surreal for Aston Villa supporters, too. Their 2-1 victory<\/a> at the Etihad Stadium, inspired by two goals from Ollie Watkins to complete a league double over City, came only four days after their Europa League triumph<\/a> in Istanbul, where Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Emi Buend\u00eda were the scorers.<\/p>\n Buend\u00eda is the only one left in claret and blue as Unai Emery builds a new side, one that has picked up in form after a single point from their first four league games. City, meanwhile, are thriving on the pitch: victory would make them just the third side to win their first eight games of a Premier League<\/a> season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n You remember Manchester City<\/a>, don\u2019t you? They made one or two headlines earlier in the month, but have since been kept off the back pages by a neighbouring circus.<\/p>\n Since the weird (and wonderful, if you\u2019re a City fan) win at Anfield, Enzo Maresca\u2019s team have played three games, all at home. They were undressed by PSG, held off Ipswich last weekend and hammered AEK on Tuesday. Oh, and Elliot Anderson made the James Bond shortlist<\/a>.<\/p>\n