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.
Half-time: Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
45+3 mins: Leeds created some fine chances in the first half but the best one fell to Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes right at the end of the half.
His effort was stopped by Illan Meslier and the teams head into the break on level terms. This match is delicately poised.
All to play for in the second half.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
45+1 mins: Save! Leeds give the ball away to Bruno Fernandes who’s free to storm into the penalty area. He takes his time before lacing a shot towards the far corner.
Illan Meslier holds his ground before sticking out a leg and deflecting the ball wide of the target.
That was Man Utd’s best chance of the half!
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
45 mins: Three minutes of added time to play before the end of the first half.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
44 mins: Chance! Leeds come within inches of the opening goal. The ball comes over the ball into the box and Crysencio Summerville brings it down ahead of Tyrell Malacia.
He shoots but is denied by David De Gea’s outstretched right hand. The ball comes back to him but a scramble just off the goal line results in Man Utd booting the ball clear!
So close from the Leeds midfielder.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
41 mins: Weston McKennie is shown a yellow card for his tackle on Rashford and becomes the latest player to go in the book, that’s Firpo, McKennie and Fred all on yellow cards.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
38 mins: Bruno Fernandes weaves and twists his way up to the byline before flicking the ball into the box. His pass hits Tyler Adams and loops up into the air before Illan Meslier claims it.
Chance! Leeds get the ball rolling again but Marcus Rashford nicks it high up the pitch and releases the ball to Fernandes befire getting cleaned out by Weston McKennie.
Fernandes lets fly from the edge of the box but can’t find a way past Meslier who clings onto the ball low down to his left.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
35 mins: An awkward moment for Harry Maguire sees him charged down by Jack Harrison and lose the ball inside his own final third. Harrison carries the ball into the penalty area but Maguire recovers well and a nicely-timed tackle gets the ball back.
He sends it over to Tyrell Malacia who comes under pressure from Tyler Adams before accidently elbowing the Leeds midfielder in the face trying to hold him off.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
32 mins: This match hasn’t settled down at all. Every player is giving it everything to try and win the ball or slip in a pass or make a clearance.
Man Utd win a throw in Luke Ayling strides away with the ball, Tyrell Malacia grabs his shirt wanting it back but the defender kicks off and the referee has to calm things down.
Neither team is giving an inch here.
Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
29 mins: Wilfried Gnonto has a scrap with Diogo Dalot on the left wing but comes away with the ball in his possession. He cuts inside and gets hacked down by Marcel Sabitzer.
Leeds’ free kick is swung into the middle by Jack Harrison but a Wout Weghorst header sends the ball out to Luke Ayling. He tries to recycle it back into the penalty area but overhits the pass and puts the ball out for a goal kick.
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