English football: complexes of "Aston Villa" (video)

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Midweek in the English Premier League: Main events, goals, and table updates — all in this article.

EPL. Matchweek 34
Manchester City — Aston Villa 2:1
Goals: Silva (7), Nunes (90+4) — Rashford (18, penalty)
Manchester City: Ortega, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Riley, Gündoğan, Kovačić, Silva, De Bruyne (Akanji, 90+5), McAtee (Doku, 74), Marmoush.
Aston Villa: Martínez, Cash (Disasi, 61), Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Onana (Asensio, 76), Rogers (Malen, 86), Tielemans, Ramsey (McGinn, 61), Rashford (Watkins, 76).
Yellow cards: Digne (35), Rogers (50), Gvardiol (70), Nunes (77), Watkins (85), Silva (86)

In England, it’s clear that Liverpool and Arsenal won’t give up their top two positions. But the race for the next three Champions League spots is intense. With five rounds left, there were only two points between third-place Newcastle and seventh-place Aston Villa.

That's why Guardiola said before the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley that the match against Aston Villa was like another final. The winner of this match would move into third place.

Villa nearly opened the scoring in the 20th second: Rashford took advantage of a City defensive error and struck towards the far post, but the ball hit the post. City quickly recovered. The hosts took the initiative and scored in the 7th minute — Silva found the net after a cutback from Marmoush following a diagonal ball from Dias.

City pressed forward, but Villa stuck to their plan — counterattacks. In the 16th minute, Ramsey fell in the box after contact with Dias. VAR check led to a penalty, converted by Rashford — 1:1.

On loan from Manchester United, Rashford’s goal meant City had conceded 22 goals at home this season — the worst since 2003/04 (24 goals). Guardiola, agitated, argued with the fourth official and received a yellow card. The pressure was visible.

City dominated possession, Villa countered. Emery was slow with subs, only introducing Malen in the 86th minute. Guardiola brought on Doku in the 74th minute to try to turn the game.

In the 80th minute, City scored again but it was ruled offside — Marmoush had gone too early. Guardiola looked frustrated, while cameras focused on Emery.

But Villa couldn’t hold on. In the 90+4 minute, Doku surged down the left and crossed into the box. The ball reached Nunes, who calmly scored the winner — 2:1. City climbed to third, while Villa, losing their 15th straight at the Etihad, remained seventh.