Manchester City endured a frustrating afternoon at Villa Park, slipping to a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa in a Premier League clash on Saturday. Goals from Jhon Durán and Morgan Rogers secured the win for the hosts, while Phil Foden’s late strike offered a glimmer of hope that ultimately came too late.
The match saw an early onslaught from Villa, with City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega making two crucial saves in the opening minute to deny Jhon Durán and Pau Torres. However, the hosts broke through in the 16th minute when Youri Tielemans’ precise pass set up Rogers, who assisted Durán for a clinical finish. Despite City’s efforts to dominate possession and create chances, Villa’s defense, led by Emiliano Martinez, held firm.
City’s struggles continued in the second half as Morgan Rogers doubled Villa’s lead in the 65th minute with a well-placed shot past Ortega. While Foden tested Martinez again and managed to score in stoppage time, City couldn’t find the equalizer. The loss marks City’s second consecutive Premier League defeat, leaving them in sixth place on the table with 27 points, while Villa climbed to fifth with 28 points.
Manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the team’s challenges, citing defensive injuries and dropped intensity in the second half. “We made a really good first half, but in the second half, our pressing was not good enough. The solution is to bring the players back. We have another opportunity next game,” he stated.
City will look to bounce back on Boxing Day when they host Everton at the Etihad Stadium. Kick-off is set for 12:30 pm (UK). Fans and players alike are hopeful for a turnaround as the season progresses.
