Manchester City’s perfect Premier League start ended at Aston Villa, where Nico Jackson’s two goals and a fine afternoon from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki earned Unai Emery’s side a 2-1 victory.
City had won all seven of their league fixtures before arriving at Villa Park, but found Villa sharper in both penalty areas. Emery’s team, after a hesitant opening to the campaign, have now produced another convincing result while also sharing the lead in the Champions League table following three wins from three.
Erling Haaland returned to the City side after missing the 5-1 European win over AEK, while Marc Guéhi, Iliman Ndiaye and Jérémy Doku were also restored. Phil Foden, fresh from his midweek hat-trick, began among the substitutes.
Villa made four changes from the side that beat Viking 3-1. Matty Cash, Ian Maatsen, Boubacar Kamara and Manzambi came in, with Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendía and Mbaye dropping out.
Jackson strikes early
Villa were ahead inside six minutes after another difficult moment for Guéhi. The defender’s error while playing out gave Jackson his opening, and the former Bayern Munich forward did the rest. He sent Elliot Anderson the wrong way before beating Gianluigi Donnarumma at his near post with a fierce finish.
That goal stirred City into life. Ndiaye gave Maatsen a demanding afternoon and tested Suzuki with a left-footed effort on 13 minutes, the Japanese goalkeeper pushing it away cleanly. Rayan Cherki then found Suzuki in his way, the Villa keeper gathering his scuffed attempt at the second attempt.
City’s best chance before the interval again fell to Ndiaye. His left-footed strike on 28 minutes clipped the right-hand post and ran behind, with Villa’s lead still intact at the break.
Haaland responds, but Villa hold firm
Enzo Maresca changed his side after half-time, replacing Guéhi and Cherki with Rico Lewis and Foden. The adjustment brought an equaliser.
From a short free-kick, Enzo found Ndiaye, whose delivery into the area was met by Haaland. The Norwegian rose above Victor Lindelöf to head home, scoring for the seventh consecutive league round.
City pressed for a second and came within inches in the 56th minute. Joško Gvardiol struck from close range, only for Suzuki and the crossbar to combine in keeping the effort out.
Instead, Villa regained the lead. Mbaye, only just introduced, set up Jackson for his second of the afternoon. His shot was directed close to the middle of goal, but Donnarumma could not keep hold of it and the ball slipped through his hands.
It was a costly error and City could not find another way back. Haaland headed one late effort towards goal, but Maatsen cleared it from the line to preserve Villa’s win and bring City’s seven-match winning run to a halt.
