Aston Villa must show resilience after European shock against in-form Man City | OneFootball

Aston Villa will have to prove their resilience all over again when they host Manchester City at Villa Park on Sunday.

Their shock Europa League defeat to Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles was a jarring setback that halted the fine run of form Unai Emery’s side had pieced together after overcoming their shaky start to the season.

Villa had been building momentum with five consecutive victories across all competitions, a sequence that included impressive Premier League wins over Fulham, Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur.

That momentum came crashing to a halt in Deventer, where Villa squandered several chances and missed a late penalty in a 2-1 defeat that exposed familiar lapses in concentration and finishing.

It was a night that reminded Emery how fragile progress can be, particularly when expectations rise. The Spaniard admitted that his side must find greater precision in decisive moments.

“We have to be more clinical,” he said after the loss. “We created enough to win the game, but we did not take our chances. That is something we need to correct quickly.” That correction must begin against a Manchester City side that rarely forgive such wastefulness.

Pep Guardiola’s men have been in steady rhythm, unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions and keeping three successive clean sheets.Their midweek Champions League victory over Villarreal extended that run and underlined their defensive organisation and attacking balance.

Erling Haaland remains their focal point, having scored in nine consecutive games and already scoring 11 league goals this season. His presence, along with the creative influence of Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, means City will arrive at Villa Park as firm favourites.

Yet this fixture has been tricky for them recently. Villa have beaten City at home in each of the last two Premier League campaigns, drawing belief from their compact shape and swift transitions.

Emery will hope for another performance of that intensity, particularly after the Europa League lapse. The Villa boss has built a reputation for turning setbacks into fuel, and this encounter offers a chance for his side to demonstrate that they belong among England’s elite.

For City, the challenge will be maintaining focus after a smooth stretch of results. Guardiola’s side are chasing their fourth straight league win and cannot afford a slip with Arsenal currently leading the table.

Villa, stung by Thursday’s defeat, could not have asked for a tougher test, but this is precisely the type of occasion where they can reassert their growing pedigree.