Aston Villa defeated Manchester City 2-1 this Saturday at Villa Park and put an end to the perfect start of the team led by Enzo Maresca in the Premier League, where they had won their first seven games of the season.
Unai Emery’s team won thanks to a double from Nicolas Jackson, who opened the scoring in the 6th minute and scored the decisive goal in the 60th. For the visiting team, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland scored the only goal for the citizens at the beginning of the second half.
With this result, Manchester City suffered its first league defeat of the season, although it retains the lead with 21 points. Arsenal, second with 18 points, has the opportunity to equal it if they win against Everton this Saturday.
Aston Villa, for its part, continues to make up ground after a start to the campaign below expectations. With 11 points, the Birmingham team is in sixth position and achieved its first victory at home in this edition of the Premier League.
Jackson once again demonstrated his good form by scoring for the fourth consecutive game in the English championship. The forward, who arrived from Chelsea, put the hosts ahead in the first minutes and restored the lead to his team after Haaland equalized the match in the 52nd minute, with a powerful header after a cross from Iliman Ndiaye.
The competition’s top scorer, with nine goals, came close to rescuing a point for City in the final moments, but his header was cleared off the goal line by Ian Maatsen in the 89th minute.
Emery celebrated the victory and highlighted the atmosphere at Villa Park, which he considered a determining factor for his team to win against one of the main candidates for the title.
The Spanish coach continues to consolidate his project despite the numerous departures that the squad suffered during the last transfer market. Six players who had started in last season’s Europa League final left the club.
Maresca, who had managed to win his first seven Premier League games at the head of a new team, regretted the defeat and considered that Manchester City deserved a better result due to the chances generated, although he recognized the lack of forcefulness in the areas.
The victory represents an important boost for Aston Villa and adds excitement to the fight for leadership, while Manchester City will have to react to prevent their pursuers from reducing the distance in the standings.
