Premier League Regular Season - 38
Manchester City 1 - 2 FT Aston Villa
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
23' A. Semenyo
HT
↓ A. Garcia ↑M. Cash 46'
O. Watkins 47'
58' ↓ A. Semenyo ↑R. Cherki
59' ↓ B. Silva ↑M. Kovacic
O. Watkins (R. Barkley) 61'
↓ Douglas Luiz ↑Y. Tielemans 74'
↓ L. Bogarde ↑A. Onana 74'
↓ V. Lindelof ↑P. Torres 74'
77' ↓ T. Reijnders ↑J. Doku
77' ↓ J. Stones ↑J. Gvardiol
77' ↓ N. Ake ↑R. Ait-Nouri
82' R. Lewis
↓ R. Barkley ↑J. McGinn 86'
90' P. Foden
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Manchester City
Goalkeepers
James Trafford 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
101
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Rico Lewis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
101
Total Mins
Started
Entry
John Stones
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
77
Entry
Rúben Dias
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
101
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nathan Aké
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
Midfielders
Nico González 
MAGNET
74
Activity
74
Activity
66
Passes
8
Duels
Bernardo Silva 
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
4
Duels Won
80%
Win %
Antoine Semenyo 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Savinho 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Forwards
Phil Foden 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
Tijjani Reijnders
STORMTROOPER
4
Shots
4
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
BENCH
Marcus Bettinelli 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Max Alleyne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Joško Gvardiol
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rayan Aït-Nouri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rayan Cherki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
43
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mateo Kovačić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
42
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matheus Nunes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jérémy Doku
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Omar Marmoush
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
Marco Bizot
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
101
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Andrés García
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
4
Duels Won
80%
Win %
Victor Lindelöf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
74
Entry
Tyrone Mings
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
101
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ian Maatsen
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
30%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Lamare Bogarde
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
74
Entry
Douglas Luiz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
74
Entry
Leon Bailey
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Ross Barkley 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.6
Rating
Emiliano Buendía
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Ollie Watkins 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
9.3
Rating
BENCH
James Wright
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matty Cash
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pau Torres
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Lucas Digne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Youri Tielemans
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amadou Onana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
John McGinn
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bradley Burrowes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
George Hemmings
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/26/2025 | Aston Villa | 1 - 0 | Manchester City | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 04/22/2025 | Manchester City | 2 - 1 | Aston Villa | Premier League | Etihad Stadium |
| 12/21/2024 | Aston Villa | 2 - 1 | Manchester City | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 04/03/2024 | Manchester City | 4 - 1 | Aston Villa | Premier League | Etihad Stadium |
| 12/06/2023 | Aston Villa | 1 - 0 | Manchester City | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 02/12/2023 | Manchester City | 3 - 1 | Aston Villa | Premier League | Etihad Stadium |
| 09/03/2022 | Aston Villa | 1 - 1 | Manchester City | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 05/22/2022 | Manchester City | 3 - 2 | Aston Villa | Premier League | Etihad Stadium |
| 12/01/2021 | Aston Villa | 1 - 2 | Manchester City | Premier League | Villa Park |
| 04/21/2021 | Aston Villa | 1 - 2 | Manchester City | Premier League | Villa Park |
10/26/2025
04/22/2025
12/21/2024
04/03/2024
12/06/2023
02/12/2023
09/03/2022
05/22/2022
12/01/2021
04/21/2021
Manchester City Win
Aston Villa Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 38 GD: +44
P: 38 GD: +42
P: 38 GD: +19
P: 38 GD: +7
P: 38 GD: +10
P: 38 GD: +4
P: 38 GD: -6
P: 38 GD: +6
P: 38 GD: +3
P: 38 GD: +6
P: 38 GD: -4
P: 38 GD: -2
P: 38 GD: -3
P: 38 GD: -7
P: 38 GD: -10
P: 38 GD: -3
P: 38 GD: -9
P: 38 GD: -19
P: 38 GD: -37
League Standings
| Pos | Team | P | Pts | GF | GA | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 37 | 82 | 69 | 26 | +43 | |
| 2 | Manchester City | 37 | 78 | 76 | 33 | +43 | |
| 3 | Manchester United | 37 | 68 | 66 | 50 | +16 | |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 37 | 62 | 54 | 48 | +6 | |
| 5 | Liverpool | 37 | 59 | 62 | 52 | +10 | |
| 6 | Bournemouth | 37 | 56 | 57 | 53 | +4 | |
| 7 | Brighton | 37 | 53 | 52 | 43 | +9 | |
| 8 | Chelsea | 37 | 52 | 57 | 50 | +7 | |
| 9 | Brentford | 37 | 52 | 54 | 51 | +3 | |
| 10 | Sunderland | 37 | 51 | 40 | 47 | -7 | |
| 11 | Newcastle | 37 | 49 | 53 | 53 | 0 | |
| 12 | Everton | 37 | 49 | 47 | 49 | -2 | |
| 13 | Fulham | 37 | 49 | 45 | 51 | -6 | |
| 14 | Leeds | 37 | 47 | 49 | 53 | -4 | |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 37 | 45 | 40 | 49 | -9 | |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 37 | 43 | 47 | 50 | -3 | |
| 17 | Tottenham | 37 | 38 | 47 | 57 | -10 | |
| 18 | West Ham | 37 | 36 | 43 | 65 | -22 | |
| 19 | Burnley | 37 | 21 | 37 | 74 | -37 | |
| 20 | Wolves | 37 | 19 | 26 | 67 | -41 |
P: 37 GD: +43
P: 37 GD: +43
P: 37 GD: +16
P: 37 GD: +6
P: 37 GD: +10
P: 37 GD: +4
P: 37 GD: +9
P: 37 GD: +7
P: 37 GD: +3
P: 37 GD: -7
P: 37 GD: 0
P: 37 GD: -2
P: 37 GD: -6
P: 37 GD: -4
P: 37 GD: -9
P: 37 GD: -3
P: 37 GD: -10
P: 37 GD: -22
P: 37 GD: -37
P: 37 GD: -41
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
A Final Day Shock at the Etihad
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 89/100. A stunning Upset on the final day saw the visitors flip the script and secure a famous victory to silence the title hopefuls.
Early Blue Dominance
Manchester City edged possession in the opening exchanges, stepping onto the Etihad Stadium pitch fully aware of the massive Stakes involved in this crucial finale. The hosts needed a result to keep pressure on the league leaders, and they pushed the tempo immediately. The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute when A. Semenyo finished a slick move, sending the home crowd into raptures. A barrage of 16 total shots from the hosts turned the first half into a constant test of resilience. The visitors seemed pinned back, absorbing 12 corners and heavy pressure in their defensive third. Yet, beneath the surface, they were waiting for their moment. The early phases felt entirely scripted for a routine home win, but football rarely sticks to the script when top-four pride is on the line.
The Birmingham Blitz
The dressing room team talk worked wonders for Aston Villa, drastically shifting the match's Balance right after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, O. Watkins found space and buried the equalizer, completely changing the atmosphere inside the stadium. The visitors ramped up the Intensity, finding huge gaps in the home defense. In the 61st minute, Watkins struck again, completing his heroics with a clinical finish after a perfectly weighted pass from R. Barkley. This lightning-fast brace turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead, leaving the home supporters in stunned disbelief. Emiliano Buendía orchestrated the counter-attacks masterfully from midfield, creating three key passes that repeatedly sliced through the defensive lines. The mid-block from the visitors frustrated every attempt to rebuild momentum.
VAR Drama and Final Whistle
Desperation set in during the closing stages. The hosts threw bodies forward, trying to salvage their title race hopes with frantic final-third pressure. Youri Tielemans was introduced off the bench and immediately brought a calming presence, executing key actions to relieve the relentless wave of sky-blue attacks. The real heart-stopping moment came in the 90th minute when P. Foden thought he had snatched a late equalizer, sparking wild celebrations. However, VAR intervened, ruling the goal out for offside and instantly deflating the stadium. That disallowed strike encapsulated the agonizing margins of top-flight football. The visitors survived the late onslaught to seal an incredible comeback. This result cemented their Champions League credentials while delivering a devastating blow to the hosts' ultimate ambitions on a spectacular closing weekend.
Key Questions
How did Aston Villa pull off this shock result?
A resilient defensive shape and ruthless counter-attacks turned the tide, fully exploiting the spaces left behind by the hosts during a frantic second half.
What made Ollie Watkins the Man of the Match?
He delivered a decisive brace, demonstrating clinical finishing with two crucial second-half goals that completely flipped a 1-0 deficit into a massive away victory.
How did Manchester City complete the comeback from behind?
They did not; despite immense late pressure and a disallowed 90th-minute equalizer by P. Foden, the visitors held on to complete their own 2-1 comeback victory.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Final Day Fireworks Await at the Etihad
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 85/100. With both the title race and top-four implications hanging in the balance, this final-day showdown promises absolute drama.
The Setup
On May 24, 2026, the Premier League season culminates as Manchester City host Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium. The narrative could not be more compelling. The home side's relentless Form rating highlights their push for the top spot, sitting in second place with 77 points. On the other side, the visitors are clutching onto fourth place with 62 points, making this a massive top-four six-pointer. The sheer Stakes of this final day clash guarantee a tense, high-wire act. City possess a frightening Balance across the pitch, but the away side boasts enough attacking firepower to ensure the Stars put on a memorable show in this crunch match.
Key Battle
The spotlight falls squarely on the attacking talismans: Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins. Haaland is the proven goal machine leading the home line, demanding constant attention from the visiting defense. Meanwhile, Watkins arrives as the ultimate difference-maker for his team. Whoever finds that clinical edge inside the penalty area will likely dictate the rhythm of this crucial tie.
Our Prediction
We expect a home victory. City's unyielding pressure in front of their own supporters should eventually overwhelm Villa's defensive structure. Look for the hosts to control the tempo early, starving the opposition of possession, before finding the decisive breakthroughs during a fiercely contested second half.