City’s unbeaten run ended by narrow Villa loss

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Manchester City F.C.

·26 Oktober 2025

City’s unbeaten run ended by narrow Villa loss

Manchester City tasted defeat for the first time since August following a narrow 1-0 Premier League loss at Aston Villa.

Pep Guardiola’s side were unbeaten in each of our previous nine matches in all competitions entering the clash at Villa Park, but Matty Cash’s first-half strike was enough for Unai Emery’s side to collect three points in Birmingham.

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After going into the break behind, Savinho effort was cleared off the line and Erling Haaland's late strike was ruled out for offside as we were unable to breech the Villans’ defence.

WHAT HAPPENED

The inclusion of Tijjani Reijnders in midfield was one of three Guardiola changes at Villa Park and the Dutchman’s effort which dipped inches over the crossbar represented the game’s first chance.

That signalled a period of pressure from the visitors with City retaining over 80% possession inside the opening 10 minutes.

But the hosts took the lead against the run of play soon after when Matty Cash controlled a corner on the edge of the box before drilling his second league goal of the season low into the bottom corner.

City responded well to the set-back though and Bernardo fed the ball to Haaland who then drove into the box and forced a good save from Emiliano Martinez.

In what was a tight, tactical first half, Villa carved out the next chance when a neatly constructed move teed John McGinn up 20-yards from goal and his goalbound drive was deflected just wide by John Stones.

With renewed energy after the interval, Savinho came agonisingly close to equalising for City when he latched onto his own rebounded shot with an immediate strike which was hooked off the line by Pau Torres.

City pushed for an equaliser with 20 minutes remaining which saw Erling Haaland’s header saved, and Nico’s drive blocked.

And we thought we had levelled when Omar Marmoush squared for Haaland to bundle the ball home, but the former was adjudged – correctly – to have strayed into an offside position and the goal was chalked off.

That proved to be our last attacking action as we tasted defeat for the first time in 10 outings.

MIDFIELD MOVEMENT

Throughout the contest, Reijnders and Stones’ positional movement reflected City’s midfield fluidity.

Deployed initially at the anchor of the engine room, the Netherlands international was afforded the opportunity to drive forward into the final third which would prompt the Englishman to step into the middle third.

The tactical tweak with Guardiola shuffling his pack before Nico was introduced with 30 minutes remaining.

NOT OUR DAY

Despite creating a number of chances and carving opportunities in the final third, City were often met by heroic rearguard action by the hosts who's defensive actions were more than admirable.

The Blues would often get into attacking areas but the final action was quickly extinguished by Emery's side who equalled our effort and battle.

OPPORTUNITY

A frustrating afternoon no doubt for City but we have the opportunity to right the wrongs from the defeat to Villa in three days’ time.

The Blues are next in action on Wednesday 29 October when we travel to Swansea in the Carabao Cup where we’ll no doubt be working tirelessly to bounce back with a victory to progress in the fifth round of the competition we’ve won eight times.

TEAMS

City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Stones (O’Reilly 61'), Gvardiol, Reijnders (Cherki 76'), Bernardo (C) (Nico 61'), Bobb (Doku 61'), Foden, Savinho (Marmoush 84'), Haaland.

Unused substitutes: Trafford, Ake, Kovacic, Lewis.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne (Maatsen 86'), Onana, Kamara, McGinn (C) (Barkley 74'), Buendia (Sancho 29' [Guessand 74']), Rogers, Watkins (Malen 86').

Unused substitutes: Bizot, Lindelof, Mings, Bogarde.