Manchester City put pressure on Arsenal with an easy victory against Aston Villa
Goals: Manchester City – Aston Villa – Played on 02/12/ 2023
Manchester City achieved a smooth victory over its guest Aston Villa (3-1) on Sunday evening, in the twenty-third round of the English Premier League.
City’s goals were scored by Rodri (4), Ilkay Gundogan (39), and Riyad Mahrez (45 + 1 from a penalty kick), while Ollie Watkins scored Villa’s only goal (61).
Thus, Manchester City regained second place, after raising its balance to 48 points, to reduce the difference between it and leaders Arsenal to 3 points, and ahead by two points against Manchester United in third place, while Aston Villa’s balance settled at 28 points in eleventh place.
Manchester City quickly advanced with a goal in the fourth minute, when Rodri ran to catch a distinguished cross from Mahrez, to head the ball into the lower left corner of the Aston Villa goal.
Manchester City almost added the second goal in the 11th minute, when Rodri passed to Gundogan, who hit a ball from inside the penalty area, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez shone in removing it.
Manchester City players demanded a penalty kick in the 20th minute, due to a handball on Chambers when he tried to stop Grealish’s shot, but the referee ordered him to continue playing after using video technology, and two minutes later, Haaland missed an opportunity to score, when he shot over the goal from a comfortable position.
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De Bruyne made his way brilliantly, dodging Kamara, before passing to Grealish, who hit a ball with his right, Martinez ably removed it in the 29th minute.
Manchester City managed to score the second goal in the 39th minute, when Gundogan met a quick, creeping cross from Haaland, with one touch from close range inside the goal.