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Matheus Nunes celebrates his late winner for City - Getty Images/Oli Scarff
Pep Guardiola has compared Champions League qualification this season to winning a trophy and after Matheus Nunes’s winner seconds from the full-time whistle, it felt like a triumphant night for the Premier League’s fallen champions.
The race for a top-five finish may go to the wire, with Aston Villa still in the race, but this was a giant stride towards securing a place among the European elite for City.
Unai Emery was left with his head in his hands at the late goal from Nunes, having seen Marcus Rashford cancel out Bernardo Silva’s opener to give his Villa team the chance of a precious point in their own fight for a Champions League place.
City are hitting form at the right time, unbeaten in six games even if their football has been far from spectacular. It looked like it would be Rashford’s evening before Nunes’s intervention. On his return to his home city after getting loaned out by Manchester United, he also had chances to secure a win for Villa.
It was the first time since December that City have been as high as third in the table, when they were in the middle of the disastrous run of results and dropped them down the table.
10:38 PM BST
Emery speaking post match
10:33 PM BST
Guardiola’s post-match thoughts
10:21 PM BST
Ruben Dias speaks
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Man City celebrate their late goal - Getty Images/Oli Scarff
10:19 PM BST
Tielemans reacts after the game
10:13 PM BST
A bitter blow for Villa
10:09 PM BST
How the Premier League’s top eight now stands
10:02 PM BST
That was the eighth goal Villa have conceded after the 90th minute
Only relegated Southampton have conceded more with 10. A recurring problem and one that probably stems from how open many of their matches are (though that was less of a theme tonight).
09:59 PM BST
FT: Man City 2 Villa 1
City go third, one point clear of Forest although they have played a game more. There was very little in the game but City rolled back the years slightly with the late goal to send the stadium into raptures. They are not going for the title this time but with Wolves, Bournemouth, Fulham and Southampton to come they really should get the job done.
Guardiola celebrated like a young kid, Emery looked ashen.
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Guardiola celebrates Man City’s late winner - Getty Images/Carl Recine
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Unai Emery reacts to Villa’s late concession - Getty Images/Marc Atkins
09:56 PM BST
GOOOOAALLLL! Doku exposes Disasi and tees up Nunes
Bedlam at the Etihad, and this late goal puts a Champions League place firmly in City’s grip. Guardiola has won dozens of trophies and three Champions Leagues, but he celebrated this moment just as passionately.
Disasi caught in no-man’s-land against Doku who beat him all ends up. The cross with the outside of his right foot was delightful, no Villa defender could go for it, and Nunes was there at the back stick to find the side netting.
09:53 PM BST
92 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Get the ball wide to Nunes and O’Reilly and cross has been the strategy for City, and Nunes wins them their 11th corner of the match. De Bruyne takes from the right, but Dias’ header from close to the penalty spot loops harmlessly into the arms of Martinez.
09:52 PM BST
90 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
There will be five minutes of added time to play. This could be a case of famous last words, but it does not feel like a goal is imminent. A draw is not the worst result for either side with some softer fixtures to come. Both teams are certainly trying, though.
09:49 PM BST
89 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Villa have defended their box superbly in the second half, Konsa and Torres have stood strong. O’Reilly tries to throw himself at a cross but is penalised for a foul.
09:48 PM BST
87 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Donyell Malen involved from the off, winning Villa a corner after he was picked out by a Digne diagonal. Asensio goes across to take from the right. Gvardiol heads away and then Malen’s take shot from distance is easily saved by Ortega.
09:46 PM BST
85 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Not too often you can say this, but a dreadful touch from Bernardo Silva after De Bruyne pass the ball to him around the edge of the box. The City man is fortunate not too be booked for the lunge that resulted.
At the other end, Watkins is booked for grabbing Dias around the face when the City defender was blocking his his run to press.
Malen is on for Rogers as Emery makes another change.
09:43 PM BST
83 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Man City’s fans unhappy again after a foul is given against Bernardo for a foul on Tielemans when it looked like he won the ball. City would have been breaking forward in numbers. Watkins is then offside when a Disasi header reaches him and it takes and age for the flag to go up.
09:41 PM BST
80 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Villa probing patiently around the City box but Ortega claims Digne’s cross under pressure. Then Watkins spins in behind into the left channel and Villa ask questions again. They cannot find the telling pass though and Rogers’ flick is aimless.
De Bruyne then sends Doku away on the counter but Disasi did well to slow him down. Gundogan pokes a pass through to Marmoush in the box, and he tucks the ball beyond Martinez but the flag is up for offside.
No debate there.
09:38 PM BST
78 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Bold from Villa again to play out from deep and Tielemans was a touch fortunate his scuffed pass to McGinn made the journey, before the Scot rolled Nunes and drew a foul. City’s right-back booked for stopping a promosing counter.
09:36 PM BST
76 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Boos from the City fans for Rashford as he is replaced by Ollie Watkins, but the United loanee can be pleased with his night’s work. Onana is also coming off, replaced by Asensio. That one is an attacking change from Emery.
09:34 PM BST
73 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
O’Reilly has been such an outlet for City in this second half, and it looks like Doku is about to join him on the left flank. City have been better at smothering Villa’s attempted attacks earlier in the move. Marmoush drags a shot just wide. McAtee is the player coming off for City. That might mean Doku on the right.
09:31 PM BST
69 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Villa have seen out that mini-storm of City pressure and there is always that threat of a break through Rashford. This has been another impressive showing from Rashford and he wins a foul in the City half. Gvardiol is booked for tripping Tielemans deliberately earlier in the move.
09:29 PM BST
The scourge of holding at corners
We are seeing players being held at almost every corner kick in this game. And it’s completely ignored by referee Pawson and VAR John Brooks
At the start of this season lawmakers Ifab produced a Guide to Referees on holding offences
It reads: Holding an opponent - referees are reminded to make an early intervention and to deal firmly with holding offences, especially inside the penalty area at corner kicks and free kicks. To deal with these situations:
- The referee must warn any player holding an opponent before the ball is in play
- Caution the player if the holding continues before the ball is in play
- award a direct free kick or penalty kick and caution the player if it happens once the ball is in play
The PGMOL are clearly not operating this advice and wrestling/grappling in the penalty area continues to be ignored by PGMOL officials. Why?
09:28 PM BST
66 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
McAtee goes close again after one of those sweeping O’Reilly crosses which have already become quite familiar. McAtee was in front of Torres at the near post but kicked fresh air. This has been one of City’s better spells, and they have another corner from a deflected O’Reilly cross.
09:25 PM BST
63 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Kovacic with a decent effort on the volley from 25 yards but Martinez was equal to it.
Then Villa threaten again with another burst in behind by Rashford, getting to the ball before Ortega and pushing the ball around the goalkeeper, but the angle narrowed and he could only find the side netting.
Emery has just made a couple of changes: Disasi and McGinn on for Cash and Ramsey.
09:22 PM BST
61 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
What an effort from McAtee! Marmoush with an initial burst down the left before De Bruyne picked out McAtee with an outside of the foot pass over the top. The City youngster cushioned the ball and very nearly lobbed the ball into the far corner over Martinez. Great effort. Guardiola drops to his knees as the ball bounces wide.
09:21 PM BST
59 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
That passage of the play sums up City’s season. They tried to show Villa inside and to press aggressively from the front, but the away team picked out Rogers with a 40 yards pass and they were out. Rogers then dribbled forward and won a free-kick, but Tielemans messed it up.
09:18 PM BST
57 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
City starting to accumulate some pressure on the Villa goal through set pieces, and Dias scuffs a volleyed effort at goal which Kamara deflects behind. The corner then drops to Marmoush, whose strike at goal takes a nick on the way through and City win another corner.
09:14 PM BST
53 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Kamara cannot time his pass through for the run of Rashford, but then play stops because Martinez is down holding his head. Gundogan gave him a clip as he ran past the goalkeeper, but VAR does not view the incident as worthy of stronger punishment. It was sneaky rather than aggressive from Gundogan.
09:12 PM BST
51 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Nico O’Reilly with an excellent burst forward for City down their left, and Rogers is booked for bringing him down. The kind of challenge we see opponents make on Rogers so often. From the free-kick, McAtee whipped a delightful ball to the back post and Onana’s outstretched leg took the ball of Gvardiol’s foot.
09:09 PM BST
47 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Rogers feels he was pulled to the ground by Gvardiol but the referee Pawson waved away his appeals. Marmoush looks the most likely spark for City, but after some quick feet his pass towards O’Reilly was overhit and ran out for a Villa throw.
09:07 PM BST
We are back under way!
City need to step things up a gear, Villa finished the first 45 minutes the stronger.
09:06 PM BST
No changes from either manager at the break
Ollie Watkins smiling as he finishes warming up at half time, but that might disguise his true feelings.
09:02 PM BST
Rashford’s fine record vs City
When you see Jamie Vardy on the list it is quite easily explainable: City have had one of the highest lines in Europe under Guardiola.
08:52 PM BST
James’ half-time verdict
The City crowd getting very agitated by Villa’s time-wasting at goal kicks. It’s water off a duck’s back to Martinez, Torres and Konsa. It’s finely balanced game. Rashford and Marmoush are threats at either end. Villa have a real player in Boubacar Kamara.
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Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez - Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
08:52 PM BST
HT: City 1 Villa 1
Villa wanted a free-kick near the edge of the City box for a foul on Rashford, but nothing doing.
A first 20 minutes full of incident, but a more tactical affair since. I think Villa have been the better team, or have certainly come closest to producing a complete performance, with some lovely passages of play through the thirds. City know they are vulnerable as soon as Villa feed the ball into Tielemans or Ramsey.
However, there have been some soft giveaways from the away team and Martinez looks a bag of nerves. City have played in fits and starts but have ammunition on the bench.
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Marcus Rashford threatens in the first half - Getty Images/Alex Livesey
08:49 PM BST
45+3 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
McAtee’s cross aimed at Marmoush is too heavy and drifts behind for a goal kick. City’s crowd do not sound especially enthused by their half.
08:47 PM BST
45+2 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Tielemans, justifiably, unhappy with Rashford who had not got himself back onside when there was green grass to break into. As a consequence, the midfielder had to take extra touches and was robbed but City do not make him pay.
08:45 PM BST
45 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
From that corner, Onana’s header which was flying wide struck O’Reilly in the face. City win a foul at the edge of the box and clear their lines.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time to play.
08:44 PM BST
43 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Smooth football from Villa again, finding the spare player in Tielemans. The Belgian won a free-kick near the right touchline which City cleared. Then the home crowd fume again, looking for a foul on Marmoush which was not given. Villa then string together another long sequence of passes, all the way back to Martinez who pinged a pass into Tielemans. Flick around the corner into Rogers who then released Digne. Villa corner and fantastic football.
08:40 PM BST
39 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Villa’s commitment to playing out from the back is drawing City on and creating space behind their back four for Rashford and Rogers. This time Digne picked out Rashford with a clipped pass over the top, well controlled, but Ortega did just enough to save with his feet from a tight angle.
08:38 PM BST
37 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Marmoush meets an O’Reilly cross with his head but he could not keep the effort down. That was a decent chance for City.
Villa and Martinez play out from the back slickly, but then Digne runs the ball into trouble in midfield when there were runners in support.
08:35 PM BST
34 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Really long spell of possession from Villa, they are looking the stronger of the two teams now. Emery’s team are finding passes out to their full-backs and they are getting out to the other flank with first-time passes played blind.
Speaking of Villa’s full-backs though... Digne is booked for a late trip on De Bruyne. Pawson influence by the crowd a little, there was not much in it.
08:31 PM BST
30 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Better defensively from Villa since scoring, they are not giving too much away. Martinez running his studs over the ball to the frustration of the home fans. Rashford and Kamara then combine well to bring the away team forward and they make City defend two long throws aimed at Onana. Pinball in the City area from the first one before they clear their lines.
08:28 PM BST
27 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Onana with a sloppy pass out of play when trying to find Digne. Then Bernardo Silva goes down with a yelp, trying to alert the referee’s attention to a high boot from Jacob Ramsey. It was a little careless from the Villa man but no great force behind it. Villa’s players not happy with Bernardo’s perceived play-acting.
08:25 PM BST
24 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
Martinez looking hesitant rooted to his line again, but the City cross skips through to him. This game has see-sawed back and forth already. You can see the abundant quality in each team but also some clear weaknesses.
08:24 PM BST
Keith Hackett: Two correct calls by the referee
That is the correct decision to award a penalty kick despite the protests. The Manchester City player, Ruben Dias, was careless in his challenge on Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, and VAR was correct to ask on-field referee Craig Pawson to intervene.
For the City goal, Villa keeper Emi Martinez seemed to complain that there was a player interfering with play behind him.
But the law states that if an attacking player remains stationary between the goalposts and inside the goal as the ball enters the goal, a goal must be awarded unless the player commits an offside offence or a Law 12 offence, in which case play is restarted with an indirect or direct free kick.
So the goal was right to stand.
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Pep Guardiola was booked for his reaction to the penalty - Getty Images/Oli Scarff
08:21 PM BST
21 minutes: City 1 Villa 1
The temperature of the game has really increased now with that sense of City injustice. Straight after conceding, the ever-sharp Marmoush almost pounced on a loose ball in the box but Martinez mopped up in the nick of time.
08:19 PM BST
GOOOALLL! Rashford deceives Ortega
The Manchester United loanee waits for Ortega to shift his weight before rolling the ball into the bottom right corner.
Guardiola has been booked for sending some invective the referee’s way.
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Rashford sends Ortega the wrong way - Shutterstock/Adam Vaughan
08:18 PM BST
PENALTY VILLA!
There was a small amount of contact as Ramsey ran across the path of Dias - knee into hamstring - but I am not sure that should classify as a clear and obvious error. When you think of some decisions which have been left standing like Tarkowski’s challenge on Mac Allister. Villa will not care. Rashford to take.
City’s crowd fuming after the incident is shown on a big screen.
I find it astonishing that Craig Pawson missed that penalty in the first instance. Dearie me. As clear as day.
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Jacob Ramsey of Aston Villa is fouled by Ruben Dias of Manchester City - Getty Images/Carl Recine
08:16 PM BST
16 minutes: City 1 Villa 0
That was better from Villa after Nunes lost possession high up the pitch, with Rashford driving them forward down the left flank. He knocked the ball inside into the path of Ramsey, who sent down in area after an apparent trip by Dias.
Play continued for around 30 seconds before the referee blows his whistle and signals he is heading to the screen... penalty check for Villa.
08:14 PM BST
14 minutes: City 1 Villa 0
Konsa caught on the ball after a square pass from Martinez across his penalty area. City have a strong grip on the game now after that rather scary opening few minutes. They are passing the ball accurately and have Villa pushed back. Emery’s team struggling to piece together a counter-attack at the moment.
08:12 PM BST
11 minutes: City 1 Villa 0
Bernardo’s shot did deflect off Digne in Martinez’s defence but he still had the chance to get two good hands to the strike. City enjoying lots of possession now, with Ramsey pinned back into a left wing-back position. De Bruyne tries a scooped pass into the box by Martinez claims.
08:08 PM BST
GOOOOALL! Bernardo scores but questions for Martinez
Marmoush picked out in a wide position on the left by a Dias diagonal, and the City forward skins Cash on the outside. The low cut-back deflects into Bernardo’s path near the penalty spot and his shot slipped through the hands of Martinez. Beaten by the firm contact on the strike.
Bernardo Silva scores his first goal since Boxing Day as he fires into the back of the net for Man City!️ pic.twitter.com/LTclNjHAIF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 22, 2025
08:07 PM BST
7 minutes: City 0 Villa 0
City enjoying some possession now in the Villa half. Nunes is pushing forward high and wide from right-back with McAtee on his inside. Marmoush is playing to the left.
08:06 PM BST
5 minutes: City 0 Villa 0
Bernardo Silva is starting in a deeper midfield with responsibility for Jacob Ramsey, and worryingly for City Ramsey has skipped away from his attention already. Villa’s ball-carrying already causing City problems.
08:04 PM BST
3 minutes: City 0 Villa 0
Very nearly an explosive start to the match, with City losing a couple of 50:50s in midfield from kick off. Tielemans plucked the ball out of the sky before poking the ball forward for Rashford, who had Dias on skates in the box. The away team very unlucky not to score.
08:02 PM BST
KICK OFF!
Aston Villa get the match started, playing in their home kit in spite of the light blue in their kit.
And within 20 seconds Rashford hits the post! He shifted the ball to his left after being found by a forward Tielemans pass. That will do little to settle City down.
Almost a dream start for Rashford and Villa after just 18 seconds. Tielemans does superbly to get away from two blue shirts in a congested area and release Rashford, who turns Dias inside out before shooting against a post.
07:58 PM BST
The players are out of the tunnel at the Etihad
It looks like the City fans have heeded Guardiola’s words and are in their seats nice and early for this one. With the speed and quality in Villa’s attack, I think the Etihad could be edgy unless they score an early goal or two.
07:52 PM BST
Gary Neville on Emery’s rotating strikers
07:42 PM BST
Guardiola’s pre-match thoughts
07:29 PM BST
City fans protest against ticketing policy
Manchester City fans have been demonstrating outside the ground in protest at the obscene ticket pricing at the Etihad. The cheapest matchday adult ticket for tonight’s game against Villa is £71, which is little short of a disgrace. “So please don’t take my City away” reads a giant banner. Ordinary fans are being priced out of the ground with ticket costs like that. A spokesman from the 1894 City supporters’ group said: “Fans are unhappy about no new season tickets being offered, despite the stadium’s capacity being increased by 8,000. Though the prices for tickets have been frozen, tonight’s match has not been sold out. Prices are too high and fans want the club to do more.”
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07:23 PM BST
There’s Villa’s set-piece coach Austin MacPhee
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Aston Villa’s set-piece coach Austin MacPhee - Reuters/Phil Noble
07:10 PM BST
Emery speaking before the game
07:06 PM BST
Rashford returns to face former rivals
Some big names on both benches tonight. Ollie Watkins is again among the substitutes for Villa, along with Marco Asensio. Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Savinho and Jeremy Doku are on the bench with academy graduates James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly in the starting XI for City. Marcus Rashford was omitted from Manchester United’s squad when they played City at the Etihad in December but he’s upfront for Villa tonight and will doubtless be hoping to make a point.
07:04 PM BST
Assessing the two teams
Emery with his usual dose of rotation with an FA Cup semi-final to come this weekend, but Villa’s team continues to look pretty formidable. The only surprise is that Ollie Watkins remains on the bench, but maybe that is not much of a shock at this stage.
There will be more questions asked of Guardiola’s selection with Foden, Grealish, Doku and Savinho all starting on the bench. City’s team looks short of speed and width, but perhaps their manager is adapting to the way Villa pack the centre of the pitch with numbers. There looks a notable athletic deficit between City and Villa’s midfield but that has been the case against many opponents this season.
06:55 PM BST
Aston Villa team news: Emery makes four changes
Starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Tielemans, Ramsey; Rogers, Rashford
Subs: Olsen, Maarsen, Garcia, Disasi, McGinn, Barkley, Malen, Asensio, Watkins
06:52 PM BST
Man City team news: O’Reilly and McAtee start
Starting XI: Ortega Moreno; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly; Kovacic, Gundogan, De Bruyne, McAtee, Bernardo; Marmoush
Subs: Carson, Grealish, Doku, Nico, Akanji, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden, Lewis
06:41 PM BST
How things stand in the top eight
06:36 PM BST
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06:35 PM BST
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06:33 PM BST
Chelsea, Newcastle and Villa face tough run-ins
06:32 PM BST
City vs Villa could be one of the games of the run-in
Manchester City vs Aston Villa is one of a select band of remaining Premier League fixtures with some jeopardy with both teams in the thick of a tight race for Champions League football.
Despite the physical and emotional toll of an absorbing tie against PSG in Europe, Villa have come storming back into contention with five consecutive league wins including a resounding 4-1 over Newcastle last time out.
Win tonight and Unai Emery’s team will jump above City and Newcastle into fourth. Villa have one of the fittest squads in the division with their attacking depth enviable. Remember, a top-five finish will be enough for Champions League football.
City remain without the injured Erling Haaland. They are unbeaten in five in the Premier League but zoom out and they remain a shadow of their former selves with five wins in their last 10.
They were not particularly impressive in the victory at Everton and fell 2-0 down to Crystal Palace in their last home game so there are fallibilities. City have an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest this weekend but a favourable run-in in the league means their fate is still very much in their hands.
This was of course the fixture in which City came from 2-0 down with 15 minutes to play to win and claim the title on the last day of the 2021-22 season, but Villa have done them damage lately, winning the last two at Villa Park.
“They are a contender to qualify for the Champions League,” said Pep Guardiola.
“You see the game they played against my friend Luis Enrique [PSG boss] - wow, I was really, really impressed.
“They can play low block and play away, but when they decide to go, with the weapons they have, the speed they have, the set-pieces, they are incredibly well organised.
“It is a final and we need our people because I think our people want the Champions League next season again and hopefully they can help us from the first minute.”
Full team news on the way shortly.
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