Aston Villa stunned Manchester City with a 2-1 win, marking Pep Guardiola's sixth league defeat in eight matches. Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers secured Villa's rise to fifth place. City's struggles, amplified by key absences, spark concerns over their Premier League title defense.
Aston Villa delivered a stunning 2-1 victory over reigning English Premier League champions Manchester City, marking Pep Guardiola's side’s sixth loss in their last eight league matches. Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers highlighted Villa's dominance, while Phil Foden’s late consolation failed to spark a comeback.
Villa started strongly, with Duran testing City's goalkeeper Stefan Ortega within the opening minute. The Colombian striker eventually broke the deadlock in the 17th minute, finishing off a brilliant team move initiated by Youri Tielemans. Despite moments of promise, City struggled to generate meaningful chances, with Josko Gvardiol and Foden coming closest in the first half.
The second half saw Villa continue to press aggressively. Rogers, a former City player, doubled Villa's lead with a sharp finish after hitting the post earlier. City’s disjointed attack, further hindered by the absence of Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias, could not break Villa’s defensive resilience. Foden’s injury-time goal was scant consolation as City slumped to another disappointing defeat.
Villa’s victory moved them to fifth in the table, leapfrogging City, who now sit in sixth place. Head coach Unai Emery praised his side’s intensity and execution, while Guardiola acknowledged City’s lack of confidence and cohesion. With fixtures against lower-ranked teams ahead, City must regroup to revive their season. Meanwhile, Villa remains unbeaten at home, showcasing their ambition to challenge the league’s elite.
This defeat raises questions about City’s ability to retain their title, as a rebuild appears increasingly necessary to return to their former dominance.