Sport
Aston Villa 1-0 Man City: Villa shock champions with 14th consecutive home win
Leon Bailey’s decisive 74th-minute strike, aided by a deflection off Ruben Dias, led Aston Villa to a 1-0 triumph over Manchester City.
This victory not only marked a significant 14th consecutive home win for Villa but also propelled them into third place in the Premier League, surpassing the defending champions.
The jubilant celebrations at Villa Park reflected the magnitude of Bailey’s goal, securing a crucial win for Unai Emery, who claimed his first career victory over Pep Guardiola in 14 attempts.
Emery achieved this milestone in his 50th match in charge of Villa, transforming the team from relegation battlers to top-four contenders within a year.
For Manchester City, the defeat underscored their vulnerability without the suspended Rodri, with their over-reliance on the Spanish midfielder evident.
The team remains unbeaten in the last 43 matches in which Rodri has played, but all four of their defeats this season occurred during his suspensions.