Manchester City headed into the game having seen Arsenal drop points already this weekend.
As a result, a win vs Aston Villa would have been huge for the Sky Blues.
And when all was said and done, Manchester City came away with a comfortable win.
Manchester City opened the scoring after 4 minutes when Rodri headed in from a Riyad Mahrez corner.
Ilkay Gundogan then should have made it 2-0 after 11 minutes when slipped in by Rodri but Emi Martinez made a good save.
Gundogan then had the ball in the back of the net a few minutes later but it was ruled out after Erling Haaland was adjudged to have fouled Martinez in the build-up – even though it looked like a pretty standard 50/50.
Villa’s first decent chance came after 32 minutes. Walker’s poor pass put Bailey one on one with Dias and the Portuguese made a great tackle to stop the Jamaican being through on goal.
Gundogan eventually got City’s second after 38 minutes, tapping in a low cross from Haaland. Riyad Mahrez wrapped up the win after 45 minutes, scoring from 12 yards after Jack Grealish was fouled.
It was not all good news for City, though, as Erling Haaland was taken off with a possible thigh injury at half-time.
Aston Villa then got a goal back after 61 minutes through Ollie Watkins, who was not closed down well enough by Manuel Akanji.
Unai Emery’s side were unable to truly push for the draw, though, and City came away with a huge three points.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Manchester City
- GK: Ederson (5.5)
- RCB: Kyle Walker (6)
- CB: Ruben Dias (6)
- LCB: Aymeric Laporte (6)
- CDM: Rodri (7.5)
- CDM: Bernardo Silva (6)
- CM: Kevin De Bruyne (7.5)
- CM: Ilkay Gundogan (7.5)
- RW: Riyad Mahrez (7)
- ST: Erling Haaland (6)
- LW: Jack Grealish (7)
Substitutes
- Julian Alvarez (5)
- Manuel Akanji (3.5)
- Phil Foden (4)
- Nathan Ake (N/A)
Aston Villa
- GK: Emilano Martinez (4.5)
- RB: Ashley Young (4.5)
- CB: Ezri Konsa (5)
- CB: Calum Chambers (4.5)
- LB: Lucas Digne (4.5)
- CM: Boubacar Kamara (5)
- CM: Douglas Luiz (6)
- CM: Jacob Ramsey (4)
- RW: Emi Buendia (5)
- ST: Ollie Watkins (6)
- LW: Leon Bailey (5)
Substitutes
- John McGinn (4)
- Alex Moreno (4)
- Jhon Duran (4)
- Matty Cash (4
- Phillipe Coutinho (4)
Match reaction
Rodri scores against us so much, we must be his favourite team to play against. That’s at least 4 against us. #AVFC #MCIAVL
— Dan Bardell (@danbardell) February 12, 2023
Rodri’s last two goals at the Etihad:
◉ May 2022: vs. Aston Villa
◉ Feb 2023: vs. Aston VillaFour of his last five goals have now come against either Leeds or Villa. 😀#MCIAVL pic.twitter.com/WSV6WBb1bb
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 12, 2023
Triple captained Haaland and he’s missing sitters now pic.twitter.com/JvTO4ZRlPt
— Nungua N’GoloKante⭐️⭐️ (@elston_mann) February 12, 2023
Sensational from #MCFC as De Bruyne runs through the #AVFC midfield, nut-megging Kamara in the process, and setting up Grealish.
Martinez with another fine save to stop the former Villa man.— Gregg Evans (@greggevans40) February 12, 2023
That’s how you use Haaland!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 12, 2023
The kind of pen that wouldn’t have been given if Grealish was wearing an #AVFC shirt btw. #MCIAVL
— Dan Bardell (@danbardell) February 12, 2023
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