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Manchester City will head into Christmas with some serious issues to sort out after their incredible fall from grace continued at Villa Park this afternoon.
Pep Guardiola’s side have now registered just one win in 12 games in all competitions after goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers earned Aston Villa a deserved three points.
In fact it could have been a much tougher defeat as City capitalized on their luck before Duran’s 16th-minute opener and Rogers equalized midway through the second half.
Phil Foden pulled one back in stoppage time for the four-time defending Premier League champions, but they still look miles from their top contenders.
Despite their injuries, City were disorganized and could end the weekend as low as ninth in the Premier League table.
Guardiola left Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench, while Villa’s squad news was headlined by the inclusion of Duran ahead of Ollie Watkins.
Early chances go begging for Villa
The Colombian striker almost made it up to boss Unai Emery within 19 seconds. Josko Guardiol pounced on the ball, allowing John McGinn to cross and clear Duran on goal, but he shot too early and Stefan Ortega got down well to save.
The German was brilliant from the ensuing corner, diving to his left to push Pau Torres’ header onto the underside of the bar, the ball failing to cross the line by a millimetre.
City were all over the place in defense and it was no surprise when the deadlock was broken shortly after quarter of an hour.
The outstanding Youri Tielemans checked Rogers on the left and his unselfish cross was perfect for Duran to fire into the net.
Jhon Duran opens the scoring and Aston Villa leads 🤩
📺 @tntsports and @otkrićeplusUK pic.twitter.com/RvI7nQl6cs
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 21, 2024
Jack Grealish, who played the role of pantomime villain against his former club, was City’s only bright spark as he gifted Matty Cash a fierce opportunity down Villa’s right flank. His probing allowed Foden to fire home a fine save from Emiliano Martinez before Grealish himself saw his effort blocked by the Argentine goalkeeper.
Walker replaced John Stones at the break but it did little to bolster the visitors’ backs with Cash squandering a good chance within three minutes of the restart, firing into the side netting instead of picking up a Villa shirt in the box.
Duran had a goal disallowed for a tackle after 50 minutes before Rogers fired in at the foot of the left post and Guardiol was sluggish again.
Rogers punishes former club
A second goal seemed imminent and it arrived after 65 minutes. This time it was former City player Rogers on target after he started and finished a move that saw him played by McGinn.
Morgan Rogers makes it 2-0 Aston Villa 🔥
Man City’s defensive problems continue 😳
📺 @tntsports and @otkrićeplusUK pic.twitter.com/vuutXbzjas
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 21, 2024
Watkins was introduced in place of Duran and made an almost immediate impact, saving Ortega well with a low kick.
Foden managed to score his first league goal of the season in stoppage time, capitalizing on good work from substitute Savinho, but it was little consolation for City, whose problems continue.
