Aston Villa earned a hard-fought 1–0 victory over reigning champions Manchester City at Villa Park on Sunday, with Matty Cash’s first-half strike proving decisive in a tense Premier League showdown.
Villa started brightly and were rewarded in the 19th minute after a well-rehearsed corner routine. Emiliano Buendía delivered a clever pass to the edge of the box, where Cash unleashed a powerful low drive beyond City goalkeeper Ederson to give the hosts the lead.
The goal stunned Pep Guardiola’s side, who struggled to create clear chances in the opening half. Erling Haaland had City’s best opportunity shortly after Cash’s goal but was denied by an excellent save from Emiliano Martínez in a one-on-one situation.
Villa continued to look dangerous on the counterattack, with captain John McGinn testing City’s defense on his 200th Premier League appearance. However, the first half ended with concern for Villa as Buendía was forced off with an apparent injury after setting up the opener.
City improved after the break, pushing Villa deeper into their own half. Tijjani Reijnders went on a fine solo run but dragged his shot wide, while Savinho’s double effort was cleared off the line by Pau Torres in a moment of defensive brilliance.
Haaland thought he had rescued a point late on when he bundled home a low cross from Omar Marmoush, but the goal was ruled out for offside, adding to City’s frustration.
Despite intense late pressure, Villa’s defensive organization and Martínez’s calm presence ensured they held on for a deserved win — their fourth consecutive Premier League victory.
The result ended City’s two-month unbeaten run in all competitions and marked Villa’s third straight home league win over Guardiola’s men.
The victory also extended Aston Villa’s impressive record at Villa Park — they are now unbeaten in 31 home league matches when scoring first since February 2023.
For Matty Cash, the goal was personally significant — his second Premier League strike against Manchester City, equaling his best scoring record against any opponent.
The triumph cements Villa’s position among the top contenders this season, while Manchester City will rue missed chances on a day when their usual attacking precision deserted them.