Man City 4-1 Aston Villa: Phil Foden’s hat-trick brings Pep Guardiola’s side within one point of first place.
Report and free match highlights as Phil Foden’s hat-trick helps Manchester City to a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa; the win brings Pep Guardiola’s side within one point of Premier League leaders Arsenal ahead of Liverpool’s game against Sheffield United on Thursday.
Highlights of the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Phil Foden scored a sensational hat-trick as Manchester City defeated Aston Villa 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium, keeping pressure on their title rivals.
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were dropped to the bench for the Premier League champions, but this was not an issue. Rodri opened the scoring early on, and while Jhon Duran equalised, it was Foden who took the game away from Villa.
With a free kick late in the first half, a sweeping finish just after the hour, and a rocket shot from the edge of the box, he moved past 20 goals for the season. No Haaland, no problem for Pep Guardiola.
The inclusion of Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish, who made his first Premier League start in 2024, allowed Foden to play a more central role, and it was from there that the England midfielder set up City’s opening goal early on. It was only the beginning.
Foden fed Doku down the right channel, and the flying winger cut the ball back for Rodri, who beat Robin Olsen in the Villa goal. The Swedish stopper was filling in for Emiliano Martinez, who became ill shortly before kickoff. There was little he could do.
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were dropped to the bench as Jack Grealish made his first Premier League start in 2024.
Unai Emery started Tim Iroegbunam in midfield, while Emiliano Martinez was replaced by Robin Olsen shortly before kickoff.
At that point, the expectation was that City would have a routine evening against a depleted Villa side that featured only four of the same starting lineup that had outplayed the reigning Premier League champions at Villa Park back in December.
However, a slick counter-attack altered the mood. Duran played a clever one-two with Morgan Rogers before tucking the ball inside the far post to surprise the home fans. Guardiola was worried during those moments when Villa threatened on the break.
Phil Foden celebrates scoring his second and City’s third goal of the game.
Manchester City’s victory over Aston Villa was led by Phil Foden’s outstanding performance. However, Julian Alvarez’s movement provided a unique challenge for Haaland. The Argentina international came close to scoring, but Olsen saved with his feet, and City didn’t have to wait long.
Foden’s free-kick after a fine run by Grealish restored the lead, but Unai Emery will be unhappy with how Nicolo Zaniolo broke from the wall, allowing the ball to arrow past him and leave the goalkeeper helpless to prevent it nestling in the back of the net.