Aston VillavsManchester City
AVL 2/MNC 1
Things to say
Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad on Sunday.
01
opener
Villa went into the Etihad and nicked it 2-1. City looked off all afternoon. Properly big result for Emery's lot.
02
key player
Ollie Watkins was a menace up top, four shots and an absolute handful for City's back line all game.
03
hot take
City are not the same side without a proper number nine. Reijnders running the show in midfield isn't covering for it anymore.
04
deep cut
Trafford only had to make three saves and still picked it out of his net twice. Tells you everything about how soft those goals were.
05
exit
Anyway, title race just got interesting again. Curious what Pep says at the presser.
The recap
Villa walked into the Etihad and absolutely did City over, nicking it 2-1 on the road to cap a brilliant away day. Watkins was a menace up top, leading the line with four shots and giving City's back line no peace all afternoon.
City had the ball and Nico González was knocking it about with 68 accurate passes, but Trafford was picking it out of his net twice while Bizot at the other end barely broke a sweat. Absolute statement result for Villa, and a properly shambolic afternoon for City at home.