Villa shock Man City to make it fourteen home wins in a row
Throughout the day, yesterday, I spoke about the upcoming game against Manchester City at work with supporters of many different clubs. Many asked my prediction, and although I was desperate to win, I stated that anything but a defeat would be quite the result for Aston Villa.
Villa eventually ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Leon Bailey deflected goal but that doesn’t tell the full story.
It was Pep Guardiola’s 535th game in management and the 13 shots on goal from Villa in the first half, were the most ever faced by a Pep side in the top five European Leagues. Thirteen is indeed the magic number because it is also the number of times the home side won possession in the final third against City, again the most ever by an opposition team in the Premier League while Pep has been boss.
I’m not finished there either as the stats keep coming. Villa also restricted City to just 2 shots on goal in the game, the fewest ever by a Guardiola team.
Aston Villa dominated Manchester City under Guardiola like no side in the Premier League has ever done before. Well done and thank you, Unai Emery.
Match Report: Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
The Aston Villa faithful were up for it and so were the players as they went for the visitors from the off. Lucas Digne came close early on but could only hit the side netting. Then Leon Bailey forced a low stop from Ederson in the City goal before Pau Torres’ long-range curled effort forced an even better save by the Brazilian goalkeeper.
The visitors showed while they were treble winners last season moments later when arguably the best striker on the planet Erling Haaland had two good chances but Emiliano Martínez showed why he was recently named the best goalkeeper in the world with a double save.
Villa dominated especially in the middle of the park as Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans gave City no time on the ball.
Just before the break, Luiz had the ball in the back of the net. Although there was nothing wrong with the Brazilian’s headed goal, Digne, who crossed the ball had run the ball just out of play.
The home side was applauded for their efforts at half-time but were they going to regret not taking one of their thirteen efforts on goal?
Guardiola appeared to change the shape of his side in the second half as the visitors dominated the ball for the opening 10 minutes without ever looking a threat on the Villa goal.
But Villa came again and picked up where they left off in the first half. This time Bailey found McGinn and looked certain to score but put his effort just wide of the goal.
With 16 minutes left on the clock, Villa finally gave themselves a much-deserved lead. Bailey, who arguably had his best game in a Villa shirt, gave Joško Gvardiol the run around all night, he got away from the Croatian again before cutting inside, shooting at goal and a deflection off Rúben Dias leaving Ederson no chance. Villa Park erupted.
Most sides would have sat back and tried to protect their lead but not Villa. They kept coming and Luiz almost doubled their lead but his effort was denied by his international counterpart.
Luiz came close again late on with a wonderful curled effort but this time the woodwork came to City’s rescue.
Quite the win for Aston Villa and quite the statement!
What the managers said
Emery: “Beating him (Guardiola) for me is not something special. It is a process.”
“We wanted to impose our game on Manchester City. We did it, more or less. Usually, we are doing high press, here at home, we are being successful (with it). Of course, we had to be very organised doing it. We did a fantastic job with it.”
Guardiola: “The better team won, Aston Villa were better than us. We struggled to make some process and after, especially when they defended with a medium block, we didn’t find the moments behind.
“It was really difficult because they are really physical and able to control many aspects. That is the reason why they are up there, playing good football and we could not do it. It is my duty, my job to find a way to come back from the situation.
Up Next
Aston Villa now host Arsenal at Villa Park in the Premier League 5.30 pm kick-off on Saturday. If we thought City was going to be hard, it doesn’t get much easier.
Manchester City return to action on Sunday as they travel to take on Premier League newbies, Luton Town.