Matheus Nunes delivered a thrilling finish for Manchester City, scoring in the 94th minute to secure a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.
This win significantly bolsters City’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Nunes capitalised on a brilliant pass from Jeremy Doku, finding the net deep into stoppage time. Pep Guardiola’s team turned their persistent second-half pressure into a decisive goal.
Earlier in the match, Marcus Rashford nearly scored within 18 seconds, hitting the post after outmanoeuvring Ruben Dias. Bernardo Silva opened the scoring by taking advantage of an error by Emiliano Martinez in the seventh minute. Rashford later equalised with a penalty after Dias fouled Jacob Ramsey, confirmed by VAR. City intensified their efforts in the second half, with Omar Marmoush’s goal disallowed for offside and Rashford missing several opportunities.
Despite their attacking prowess, Manchester City has faced defensive issues at home this season. The Etihad Stadium, once a stronghold for Guardiola’s side, has seen them concede 22 goals in league matches this season-their highest since the stadium opened in 2003-04. However, City’s offensive capabilities remain strong, scoring 38 goals in 12 home games across all competitions in 2025.
City’s struggle to break down Villa was evident as they operated with an expected goals (xG) value of just 1.09 compared to Villa’s slightly better xG of 1.68. Nonetheless, Nunes’ rare goal proved crucial. It marked his first Premier League goal for City and only his second overall in 76 appearances, with his previous goal coming for Wolves against Chelsea in April 2023.
The victory propels Manchester City to third place in the Premier League table, one point ahead of Nottingham Forest and two points clear of Newcastle United. Meanwhile, Aston Villa remains seventh, trailing two points behind the top five and four points behind City with four matches left to play.
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The Etihad Stadium continues to be a challenging venue for opponents despite City’s defensive vulnerabilities. Their ability to score consistently at home highlights their attacking strength this season. As they aim for Champions League qualification, maintaining this form will be crucial in their remaining fixtures.