Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Riyad Mahrez penalty wraps up win

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa: The hosts were dominant as goals from Rodri, Gundogan and Mahrez saw the champions close the gap to three points of Arsenal

Man City have 'already been condemned' - Guardiola on breaches

Manchester City produced a defiant response to the Premier League’s charge sheet as they comfortably beat Aston Villa 3-1 to close to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Sunday.

Goals by Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez put the result beyond doubt by halftime as City got back on track following last weekend’s loss at Tottenham Hotspur.

With the club facing more than 100 charges relating to alleged financial misconduct the home fans were in belligerent mood at the Etihad Stadium with a series of ironic chants.

Pep Guardiola’s side needed only four minutes to take the lead when Rodri headed in Riyad Mahrez’s corner and they were cruising when Erling Haaland set up Gundogan in the 39th minute.

Villa were left with mission impossible when Mahrez tucked away a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Jacob Ramsey was adjudged to have tripped former Villa player Jack Grealish.

Ollie Watkins scored for the third successive league match to reduce the deficit on the hour mark and Villa also struck the woodwork through substitute Jhon Duran late on but City never looked in any real danger of dropping points.

.Earlier, late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho earned Manchester United a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Leeds. It meant United leap-frogged City into second place, but the Premier League champions then responded.

Manchester City vs Aston Villa

• FULL TIME! Man City 3-1 Aston Villa - champions cut gap to Arsenal to three points
• 61’ GOAL! Watkins pulls one back for Villa after Haaland subbed off (MCI 3-1 AVL)
• 44’ GOAL! Mahrez converts penalty after Grealish fouled (MCI 3-0 AVL)
• 39’ GOAL! Haaland sets up Gundogan to double City’s lead (MCI 2-0 AVL)
• 5' GOAL! Rodri powers in near-post header from early corner (MCI 1-0 AVL)
• Report: Marcus Rashford inspires Manchester United to late win at rivals Leeds

[12 February 2023 18:19 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa

87 mins: Kyle Walker picks out Kevin De Bruyne with a forward pass and the playmaker spins towards goal before curling a low pass into the box.

Phil Foden arrives on the far side but Matty Cash is there to turn the ball out for a corner.

[12 February 2023 18:15 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa

84 mins: Chance! What an opportunity for Riyad Mahrez. Kevin De Bruyne releases Julian Alvarez in behind the defence and he brings the ball into the box.

Aston Villa manage to get back into a decent shape and cut off the angle for Alvarez who instead rolls the ball to Mahrez. It sits up nicely for the arriving winger who leans back on his shot and lifts it over the crossbar!

[12 February 2023 18:13 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa

81 mins: Save! Philippe Coutinho almost earns Villa a second goal with a glorious strike from the left wing. He rolls the ball onto his right foot and drills one at goal from 25-yards.

Ederson leaps to his left and pushes the ball onto the crossbar! It’s the first save the Man City goalkeeper has had to make.

[12 February 2023 18:11 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa

78 mins: Manchester City break on the counter attack with Kevin De Bruyne flying down the right wing. Phil Foden is up there with him but De Bruyne’s pass is intercepted and cleared.

[12 February 2023 18:07 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa

75 mins: Jacob Ramsey and Ashley Young are taken off by Unai Emery, Philippe Coutinho and Matty Cash replace them.

[12 February 2023 18:02 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa

70 mins: Phil Foden comes on for Manchester City to replace Jack Grealish for the final 20 minutes of this game. It’s Foden’s first appearance in a month for City.

[12 February 2023 17:58 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa

67 mins: Close! Jak Grealish is played into space on the inside left but a cutting Kevin De Bruyne pass. He takes the ball into the box before lifting it over to the back post where Julian Alvarez is waiting.

Ezri Konsa is aware of Alvarez and leaps ahead of him before nodding the ball out for a corner.

[12 February 2023 17:55 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-1 Aston Villa

64 mins: Manchester City may just have one eye on their midweek game against league leaders Arsenal. They’re making more mistakes now and giving away silly fouls.

As it stands City will move within three points of the Gunners.

[12 February 2023 17:53 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man City 3-1 Aston Villa (Watkins, 61’)⚽️

61 mins: Is there a way back into this match for Aston Villa? Maybe.

Douglas Luiz takes the ball away from Bernardo Silva in the middle of the pitch before firing it up to Ollie Watkins. The striker drives into the vacant space before taking the ball into the box and bobbling his effort wide of Ederson to score.

Lovely finish.

[12 February 2023 17:51 · Michael Jones]

Man City 3-0 Aston Villa

60 mins: Unai Emery looks to his bench now with Lucas Digne, Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey all replaced. Alex Moreno, John McGinn and Jhon Duran brought on.