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
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.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
19 mins: Mahrez and De Bruyne are linking up expertly on City’s right side. De Bruyne is getting himself into some dangerous areas but just can’t pick out the final ball.
City win a corner that is floated over to Jack Grealish. He smokes a volley at goal on the turn but his effort is deflected wide by Calum Chambers.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
16 mins: Manchester City will feel aggrieved about that disallowed goal, Erling Haaland didn’t do anything wrong but the goalkeeper got the decision.
Riyad Mahrez sends a pass to the byline for Kevin De Bruyne but the Belgian can’t catch it in time to keep it in play.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
13 mins: Disallowed goal! Kyle Walker lifts the ball over the top and bounces it into the penalty area. Erling Haaland makes a run past Calum Chambers and shrugs off the defender.
He’s only got eyes for the ball as Emi Martinez comes off his line and punches the ball off Haaland’s nose. The two collide and go to ground as the ball drops to Ilkay Gundogan.
He drills it into the back of the net but the referee blows for a foul against the goalkeeper.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
12 mins: Save! City should be two up! Kevin De Bruyne gets the ball out on the right wing and slips a pass inside to Rodri. He threads it into the box as Ilkay Gundogan makes a cutting run.
The German midfielder hits one at goal but Emi Martinez manages to get something on the ball and tip it wide of the far post! Great attack, great save.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
10 mins: Ollie Watkins makes a run in behind the Man City defence as a long ball comes over the top. Leon Bailey is up there with him and drives into the box but Watkins’ cutback comes to Rodri who brings the ball away for the home side.
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
7 mins: Manchester City have been under scrutiny this week after the Premier League charged them with over 100 breaches of the top-flight’s financial rules.
That off-field focus led many to believe that the champions would respond on the pitch against Aston Villa today and they’ve certainly started well.
It could be a long day for the Villans today.
GOAL! Man City 1-0 Aston Villa (Rodri, 4’)⚽️
4 mins: Manchester City strike early! Riyad Mahrez swings in the corner ball as Rodri makes a run to the near post. The midfielder meets it in the air and guides his header past Emi Martinez to send the home side ahead!
Man City 0-0 Aston Villa
3 mins: Man City defend Villa’s corner easily enough then work the ball up the pitch and push high from the back. Ruben Dias fizzes a cross field pass over to Jack Grealish on the left wing. He brings the ball down and wins a corner with a squared pass into the six-yard box.
Kick off: Man City 0-0 Aston Villa
Aston Villa kick off the match and work the ball over to the left wing. Kyle Walker doesn’t look 100% fit and needed to come away from the Man City warm-up early.
Villa target him early on with a cross into the box but Aymeric Laporte is there to deflect the ball out for a corner.
Man City vs Aston Villa
The players make their way out onto the pitch at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola has named a strong Manchester City line-up. The champions are hoping to respond after losing their previous league game 1-0 to Tottenham.
Can they collect three points and put the pressure on Arsenal?
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