In a surprising turn of events, Aston Villa secured a fully-deserved 1-0 triumph over Manchester City on Wednesday, propelled by a deflected shot from Leon Bailey. The reigning Premier League champions find themselves in an unusual fourth position, trailing six points behind the league leaders.
Under the guidance of the hungry and confident Unai Emery, Aston Villa, experiencing their best season in years, dominated the game from start to finish, surpassing City to claim the third spot in the league standings.
Despite squandering numerous opportunities, Villa sealed the win in the 74th minute when the speedy Bailey surged past the halfway line, confronted City’s defense, and unleashed a shot that deflected off Ruben Dias’ foot, beating goalkeeper Ederson.
Moments later, Douglas Luiz struck the post for the hosts, reflecting their potential for a larger margin of victory in the notably one-sided game, much to the joy of the majority at Villa Park.
Bailey expressed his delight, stating, “It was a great game, great night for the fans, great night for Aston Villa. To get the win and to be the one that scored the goal is a magnificent feeling.”
The outcome places Pep Guardiola’s team in fourth position with 30 points after 15 games, trailing leaders Arsenal by six points and enduring a winless streak in their last four Premier League matches. Aston Villa, on the other hand, rose to third with 32 points, just two behind Liverpool and four behind Arsenal, marking their 14th consecutive home Premier League victory.
The dominance displayed by Villa was remarkable, with 22 shots, the joint-most faced by a Guardiola team in 535 games across Europe’s major leagues. City, in contrast, managed only two shots, the fewest ever registered by a Guardiola-led team in these leagues.
Guardiola acknowledged Villa’s superiority, stating, “Today Aston Villa played better and we struggled, especially in the first half.” He emphasized the challenge ahead, mentioning the need to bounce back in their upcoming fixture against Luton on Sunday.
Despite City missing key players Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne, Villa’s statement victory highlights their remarkable progress under Emery. The manager, while acknowledging the team’s success, emphasized the need to stay focused and balanced, looking ahead to their next challenge against league leaders Arsenal.
“We have to be excited but we need to keep the balance. For now, we have to be focused on Arsenal on Saturday. I want us to be a team with a winning mentality and be balanced,” said Emery, recognizing the tough competition from teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham behind them in the table.
