Aston Villa vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight after Leon Bailey earns draw
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester City: Leon Bailey responded after Erling Haaland’s opener to deny the champions
Another goal from Erling Haaland wasn’t enough for Manchester City this time as Leon Bailey’s second-half equalizer salvaged a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa against the defending champion in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Haaland took his tally to 10 goals from six games by volleying in a cross from Kevin de Bruyne in the 50th minute but then missed two chances to score a second before Villa struck back.
Bailey met a low cross from Jacob Ramsey and hammered a first-time shot high into the net in the 74th to rescue a valuable point for Villa, whose manager Steven Gerrard was under heavy pressure after three straight league losses.
For City, it’s a second draw to go with four wins in the opening six games, leaving it tied for second place with Tottenham on points. Leader Arsenal has a chance to go four points clear on Sunday if it can maintain its perfect record when it travels to Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola’s City has made a habit of going two goals down before rallying, but this time it was their turn to relinquish the lead.
Haaland had been quiet in the first half but showed his predatory instincts when he came flying in at the far post to meet a pinpoint cross from De Bruyne, jumping high to side-foot the ball in.
The towering Norway striker forced two good saves from Emiliano Martinez as City pushed for a second goal.
That left the visitors open to counterattacks, though, and Ramsey had already squandered one such opportunity with a heavy touch by the time he set up Bailey for the equalizer.
Midfielder Rodri came closest to a winner for City when his shot from outside the area crept narrowly wide in the 87th.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
45 mins: Walker’s cross field pass to Foden is intercepted by Young and Villa send the ball back up the pitch. City recover it and look to find a way into the box.
Two minutes to be added on at the end of the half.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
41 mins: There’s a bit of fire in Aston Villa’s belly as they’ve gained come confidence in this match. Young and Luiz combine on the right side and swing the ball into the box but a flick on sends it out to Digne on the left.
Digne whips it back into the middle but City boot it away. This is good stuff from the home side who are putting pressure on the champions.
Steven Gerrard looks pleased with what he’s seeing.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
38 mins: John McGinn sends a decent cross into the City box and almost picks out Ollie Watkins only for Ruben Dias to leap in front of him and clear.
Phil Foden brings the ball into midfield but Ashley Young wins it back and kicks off a Villa counter-attack. The ball is threaded between the legs of John Stones to set Watkins free into the box.
Stones forces Watkins onto his left foot then leaps in front of the shot. He gets a touch to it which is enough to force it wide of the far post!
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
35 mins: Cancelo weaves his way inside and out of Leon Bailey who’s being asked to help out on Villa’s right side. Cancelo’s initial cross hits Young and drops to Foden.
Foden guides the ball to the byline where Cancelo collects it and flicks a pass into the hands of Emi Martinez.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
32 mins: Man City are starting to move the ball slickly but Villa are working hard to close it down. They’re trying to avoid giving City too much time on the ball in central midfield which has resulted in a few heavy 50/50 challenges.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
29 mins: Matty Cash can’t play on and now does get replaced with Ashley Young for Aston Villa.
City have a corner that’s played short to Bernardo who gives it to De Bruyne on the wing. De Bruyne sends in a cross and Douglas Luiz scurries it away.
Gundogan collects the loose ball, plays it over to Cancelo on the right and his cross sails over everyone before bouncing out for a goal kick.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
26 mins: 37-year-old Ashley Young is called on to get stripped and ready but Cash has hobbled back onto the pitch.
John McGinn gets tackled by De Bruyne who puts a teasing ball back into the middle but can’t pick out a team mate. City recover the ball through Foden who guides it inside.
Villa then push out and the visitors knock the ball back to their defensive line.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
23 mins: Matty Cash has gone to ground and looks to have a problem with his left leg. The physios are checking him over but there’s been a lenghty break in play here.
He might have pulled a hamstring.
Aston Villa 0-0 Man City
20 mins: Close! Cash does well initially to keep Foden in check and Douglas Luiz takes the ball of the City man. He gives it back to Cash whose clearance is poor and comes straight to De Bruyne.
De Bruyne lays the ball off to Joao Cancelo who shifts it onto his right foot and drills one at goal winning a corner when the ball deflects out of play.
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