Aston Villa beats Manchester City 2-1 to end Maresca's perfect run
Nicolas Jackson scored twice in the first half as Unai Emery's side secured a sixth win in seven matches.
By Noor Phillips ·
Manchester City suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday, falling 2-1 to Aston Villa at Villa Park. Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for the home side, capping a performance that snapped the streak of Enzo Maresca.
Maresca had previously become the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games after taking charge of a new club. That record ended in the sixth minute when Marc Guehi made a heavy touch that allowed Jackson to receive the ball. Jackson cut inside Elliott Anderson and fired a high shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Villa the lead.
City controlled possession for much of the first half but struggled to convert pressure into goals. Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made key saves to deny Iliman Ndiaye, Rayan Cherki, and Abdukodir Khusanov. Ndiaye also struck the post before the break, keeping the scoreline at 1-0.
Erling Haaland equalized in the 52nd minute with a header from a Ndiaye cross. The strike marked Haaland's 13th goal in his last 10 appearances this season. Minutes later, Josko Gvardiol had a chance to put City ahead, but Suzuki directed his powerful drive onto the crossbar.
Villa restored their lead in the 60th minute. Ibrahim Mbaye found space behind the City defense and crossed the ball for Jackson. The striker finished low, a shot that Donnarumma should have stopped. City pushed for a late equalizer but could not find a way past the Villa defense.
The result moves Arsenal into a position to tie City at the top of the table if they defeat Everton later on Saturday. For Villa, the win lifts them to sixth place in the Premier League standings. It also marks their sixth victory in seven games across all competitions.
Unai Emery has rebuilt the squad significantly since arriving four years ago, transforming the club into a Champions League participant. The team lost six players from last season's Europa League starting lineup during the transfer window. New signings Jackson, Suzuki, Mbaye, and Johan Manzambi have provided an immediate impact. Meanwhile, City continues to appeal a guilty verdict on over 100 financial charges from 2009 to 2018, a case that could lead to heavy sanctions.
