Manchester City vs Aston Villa - Premier League, Regular Season - 38 (Sun, 24 May 2026)
Premier League Regular Season - 38 
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Match reportManchester City vs Aston Villa: Watkins steals Guardiola farewellOllie Watkins scored twice as Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1, turning Pep Guardiola's Etihad farewell into an emotional defeat. Events
First half
- Goal: A. Semenyo 1-0 23'
Second half
- 46' Substitution: A. GarciaM. Cash
- 47' Goal: O. Watkins 1-1
- Substitution: A. SemenyoR. Cherki 58'
- Substitution: B. SilvaM. Kovacic 59'
- 61' Goal: O. Watkins assist: R. Barkley 1-2
- 74' Substitution: Douglas LuizY. Tielemans
- 74' Substitution: L. BogardeA. Onana
- 74' Substitution: V. LindelofP. Torres
- Substitution: T. ReijndersJ. Doku 77'
- Substitution: J. StonesJ. Gvardiol 77'
- Substitution: N. AkeR. Ait-Nouri 77'
- Yellow card: R. Lewis 82'
- 86' Substitution: R. BarkleyJ. McGinn
- VAR: P. Foden VAR: Goal Disallowed - offside 90'
Stats
Manchester CityAston Villa
- 52% Possession 48%
- 16 Shots 12
- 3 On target 5
- 1.25 xG 1.58
- 8 Corners 4
- 7 Fouls 4
All stats
- 457 Passes 435
- 89% Pass accuracy 91%
- 3 Saves 2
- 1 Offsides 1
- 1 Yellow cards 0
Player of the match
OWOllie Watkins
Aston Villa· 2 goalsStories
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Pep Guardiola leaves Manchester City tired, emotional and sure the timing is right Pep Guardiola says he is tired and leaving Manchester City at the right time after a tearful final game and a guard-of-honour row. -
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Pep Guardiola bows out at Manchester City with an emotional Etihad farewell Pep Guardiola’s emotional farewell to Manchester City featured a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, a stand and statue tribute, and a family moment in the stands. -
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Manchester City player ratings vs Aston Villa: Nico González tops a losing effort Manchester City player ratings from the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, with Nico González top for City, Ollie Watkins starring with a 9.3, and Pep Guardiola's -
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Pep Guardiola farewell overshadows Manchester City defeat to Aston Villa Pep Guardiola's final Manchester City match ended in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, but Bernardo Silva's tears and the renamed stand defined the day. -
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Bernardo Silva says his Manchester City exit was settled two years ago Bernardo Silva says he decided two years ago to leave Manchester City and questioned captaincy in his final season, while delaying his next move. -
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Manchester City turn Pep Guardiola's farewell into a permanent Etihad tribute Pep Guardiola stand plans are set at Manchester City, with the Etihad North Stand renamed and a statue planned before the Aston Villa farewell. -
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Pep Guardiola to take City Football Group role after Manchester City exit Pep Guardiola leaves Manchester City after a decade and will take a City Football Group ambassador role, with Sunday's Aston Villa match his farewell.
Lineups & ratings
Manchester City
4-2-2-2 Coach Pep Guardiola
3
5 ↓77'
47
20 ↓59'
6 ↓77'
42 ↓58'
4 ↓77'
14
1
26
82
- 10 Rayan Cherki for A. Semenyo
- 8 Mateo Kovačić for B. Silva
- 11 Jérémy Doku for T. Reijnders
- 21 Rayan Aït-Nouri for N. Ake
- 24 Joško Gvardiol for J. Stones
- 7
- 13
- 27
- 68
Aston Villa
4-2-3-1 Coach Unai Emery
3 ↓74'
31
6 ↓86'
10
5
11
40
21 ↓74'
22
26 ↓74'
16 ↓46'
- 2 Matty Cash for A. Garcia
- 8 Youri Tielemans for Douglas Luiz
- 14 Pau Torres for V. Lindelof
- 24 Amadou Onana for L. Bogarde
- 7 John McGinn for R. Barkley
- 12
- 53
- 64
- 83
Bench · Manchester City
- 10 Rayan Cherki for A. Semenyo
- 8 Mateo Kovačić for B. Silva
- 11 Jérémy Doku for T. Reijnders
- 21 Rayan Aït-Nouri for N. Ake
- 24 Joško Gvardiol for J. Stones
- 7
- 13
- 27
- 68
Bench · Aston Villa
- 2 Matty Cash for A. Garcia
- 8 Youri Tielemans for Douglas Luiz
- 14 Pau Torres for V. Lindelof
- 24 Amadou Onana for L. Bogarde
- 7 John McGinn for R. Barkley
- 12
- 53
- 64
- 83