City asserted their dominance early on, and Kyle Walker was left frustrated when his shot cleared the bar after being teed up by İlkay Gündoğan at the end of a sumptuous move. Alongside midfield partner Kevin De Bruyne, Gündoğan was at the heart of everything going forward, with the duo both having early chances to break the deadlock against a Villa side chasing shadows in the opening exchanges.
Villa manager Steven Gerrard was forced into a first-half change, with the injured Matty Cash replaced by Ashley Young at right-back, and the former Manchester United captain faced an unenviable task of going head-to-head with Phil Foden down City’s left flank. There were limited forays forward for Villa, but Ollie Watkins rallied the home crowd with an angled attempt that went just wide, following some fine link-up play between Young and Douglas Luiz.
City had failed to register a shot on target before HT, but they righted that only five minutes into the second half, as Erling Haaland scored his 10th goal of the season by expertly guiding home De Bruyne’s excellent searching cross. The goal ensured Haaland matched Mick Quinn’s Premier League record of netting 10 goals in his first six Premier League appearances, which the latter achieved with Coventry City in December 1992.
Villa were undeterred by the setback, as Leon Bailey then saw his left-footed shot go just wide of the post, with Gerrard on his feet applauding the football from his side. While the irrepressible De Bruyne then came within inches of adding a second goal for Pep Guardiola’s men, when his free-kick hit the top of the bar, Bailey wasn’t done. Against all odds, the Holte End was sent in raptures when the Jamaican netted a stunning equaliser with a superb first-time, left-footed strike from Ramsey’s cross for only his second Premier League goal.
It was a memorable evening for Villa after ending a run of three consecutive league defeats ahead of a trip to Leicester City next Saturday, while Guardiola’s men will hope for a return to winning ways when they begin their UEFA Champions League campaign against Sevilla on Tuesday.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)