Aston Villa vs Man City – Full Post-Match Preview, Stats, and Analysis (Premier League 2025/26)
Aston Villa overcame Manchester City with a thrilling 1-0 victory at Villa Park in Matchweek 9 of the 2025/26 Premier League, showing tactical intelligence, resilience, and impressive squad depth. This article covers every moment of the match, all official stats, comprehensive player ratings, the latest EPL table context.
Aston Villa vs Man City : Match Overview
Final Score:
Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
Goal: Matty Cash (19’)
Aston Villa secured all three points in a hard-fought clash against the reigning champions, with Matty Cash netting the decisive goal in the first half. The match showcased Unai Emery’s tactical flexibility and discipline, as Pep Guardiola’s City struggled to break down a determined Villa defense.
Lineups & Tactical Shape
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
- Manager: Unai Emery
- Starting XI:
Martinez (GK); Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Buendía, Rogers, McGinn (C); Watkins - Key Subs: Maatsen, Barkley, Malen, Sancho
Manchester City (4-3-3)
- Manager: Pep Guardiola
- Starting XI:
Donnarumma (GK); Gvardiol, Dias, Stones, Bobb; Reijnders, Nunes, Silva (C); Foden, Haaland, Savinho - Key Subs: Marmoush, Doku, Kovacic, Cherki, Lewis
.
City pushed for an equalizer, with Foden and Nunes probing between the lines, but Villa’s defense held firm. Martinez was reliable as ever, saving from Haaland and Foden while orchestrating his backline. Digne and Cash offered both width and solidity, limiting City’s typical wide overloads.
Second Half: Tactical Changes & Defensive Discipline
Guardiola responded with a set of triple substitutions in the 61st minute—bringing on Doku, Silva, and Lewis to inject creativity and pace, while Villa reinforced their midfield and fullback positions by introducing Maatsen and Barkley. Despite City’s dominance in possession (52.7% to Villa’s 47.3%), Emery’s side remained compact, blocking passing lanes and forcing City into speculative efforts.
City’s best chance came in the 76th minute with a dangerous cross from Foden that just eluded Haaland’s boot. Substitute Marmoush replaced Savinho late to give City extra firepower, but Villa’s defense stood tall. Notably, Onana , Torres and Konsa were immense, combining for 16 blocks and 7 interceptions between them.
Key Stats at a Glance
| Metric | Aston Villa | Man City |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 47.3% | 52.7% |
| xG | 0.56 | 1.05 |
| Shots (on target) | 9 (3) | 18 (4) |
| Corners | 5 | 6 |
| Successful Dribbles | 6 | 6 |
| Duels Won | 42 | 41 |
| Clearances | 19 | 18 |
| Distance Covered (km) | 107.59 | 111.4 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 4 |
City pressed hard in the closing stages, but Villa’s defense and the leadership of McGinn and Martinez helped them see out a tense finale.
Player Ratings
Aston Villa
- Emiliano Martinez: Commanding, key saves, 8/10
- Matty Cash: Match-winner, tireless up and down the flank, 8.5/10
- Ezri Konsa: Resolute and alert, 8/10
- Pau Torres: Imperious in the air, 8/10
- Lucas Digne: Strong defensively, key tackles, 7.5/10
- Boubacar Kamara: Screened defense, intercepted passes, 7.5/10
- Amadou Onana: Broke up play, pressed energetically, 7.5/10
- Emi Buendía: Creative force, crucial assist, 8/10
- Jacob Rogers: Controlled transitions, 7.5/10
- John McGinn (C): Orchestrator, vocal leader, 8/10
- Ollie Watkins: Fought for every ball, 7.5/10
Man City
- Gianluigi Donnarumma: Couldn’t prevent the goal, some smart stops, 7/10
- Josko Gvardiol: Supported attack, 7/10
- Ruben Dias: Forwards kept quiet, 7/10
- John Stones: Powerful in duels, 7/10
- Oscar Bobb: Occupied the wide spaces, 6.5/10
- Reijnders: Yellow card, struggled under Villa press, 6.5/10
- Matheus Nunes: Unable to dictate tempo, 6.5/10
- Bernardo Silva (C): Fought till the end, 7/10
- Phil Foden: Bright but stifled by Villa’s compactness, 7/10
- Erling Haaland: Few clear opportunities, 6.5/10
- Savinho: Booked, provided width, 6.5/10
