Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes' post-match review of Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, 26 October 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Well, what a result for Aston Villa! They've gone and nicked a 1-0 win against the mighty Manchester City right at home. It's a bit of a shocker, isn't it? Villa have been on a roll, mind you, with three wins on the trot, but toppling City is something else. The key moment came early on with a goal in the 19th minute, and that was all they needed. City, on the other hand, will be gutted. They've been in fine form, winning their last two before this, but they couldn't find a way past Villa's solid defence. Fair play to Villa for ending City's run and showing they're a force to be reckoned with.

As for standout performances, it's hard to look past the Villa backline. They kept City at bay despite the visitors having more of the ball. It's a testament to their organisation and discipline. Matty Cash, in particular, had a cracking game, not just defensively but also popping up with the crucial goal. It's results like these that can really boost a team's confidence, and Villa will be buzzing after this one.

Looking at the stats, you'd think City might have had the edge, but football's not always about possession, is it? They had 53% of the ball compared to Villa's 47%, but it was Villa who made it count. What's interesting is Villa's efficiency on the dribble, with a 46% success rate compared to City's 35%. That could well have been the difference, showing Villa's intent to push forward when they had the chance. And let's not forget the discipline factor – City picked up four yellow cards to Villa's one. Sometimes, it's the little things that make a big difference.

The game's defining moment came in the 19th minute when Aston Villa scored the only goal of the match. It was a well-taken strike that set the tone for the rest of the game. Villa's defence then dug in, showing real grit to keep City at bay for the remaining 70 minutes. That early goal was crucial, giving Villa something to hold onto and defend.

As for Manchester City, they had their chances but couldn't convert. The pressure was on them to find an equaliser, but Villa's backline was up to the task. City's frustration might have shown in their four yellow cards, but they couldn't find a way through. It was a game where one moment made all the difference.

Aston Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and it worked a treat. No real surprises in the starting XI, with the usual suspects taking the field. Matty Cash was the standout, not just for his goal but for his all-round performance. The five substitutions made by Unai Emery suggest he was looking to keep the team fresh and maintain the intensity, which paid off in the end.

Pep Guardiola went with his tried-and-tested 4-1-4-1 formation, but it didn't quite click this time. The usual suspects were there, with Erling Haaland leading the line, but they couldn't find a way through. The five substitutions made by City suggest they were trying to change things up, but it was too little, too late. A rare off-day for the champions.

Matty Cash takes home the Ladbrokes' Man of the Match award, and rightly so. He scored the crucial goal in the 19th minute, which turned out to be the difference. With one key pass to his name, he was involved in Villa's attacking play, showing his versatility. A solid performance all round from the Villa defender.

Recent Premier League matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Manchester City (H)
• Win: 2-1 vs Tottenham Hotspur (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Burnley (H)

Recent Premier League matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Aston Villa (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Everton (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs Brentford (A)

Sitting pretty in 7th place with 15 points, Villa will be looking to build on this result when they face Liverpool, who are just one spot above them with the same number of points, on November 01, 2025 at 20:00. This win against City will give them a real boost of confidence, and they'll be looking to take the game to Liverpool from the off.

Dropping to 4th place with 16 points, City will be keen to bounce back when they take on Swansea City on October 29, 2025 at 19:45. This loss will sting, but they'll need to regroup quickly and show their class against a lower-ranked side.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.