Man City vs Aston Villa final score, result, stats, highlights as Phil Foden dazzles with magical hat-trick
Phil Foden’s dazzling hat-trick vindicated Pep Guardiola’s gamble to bench Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne as Manchester City ran out 4-1 winners over Aston Villa.
Sunday’s goalless draw against Arsenal, which left City third in the table behind the Gunners and Liverpool, saw Haaland and De Bruyne below their best but it still represented a huge call, for which Guardiola held a packed schedule that sees his team travel to Crystal Palace at 12:30 BST on Saturday accountable.
But the Catalan tactician has another match-winner of world-class credentials, who produced his latest statement performance to ensure Wednesday closed with one point separating the Premier League’s top three.
Lineups:
Man City (4-2-3-1, right to left): 18. Stefan Ortega (GK) — 82. Rico Lewis, 25. Manuel Akanji, 3. Ruben Dias, 24. Josko Gvardiol — 16. Rodri (8. Mateo Kovacic), 20. Bernardo Silva (27. Matheus Nunes) — 11. Jeremy Doku (21. Sergio Gomez), 47. Phil Foden (52. Oscar Bobb), 10. Jack Grealish — 19. Julian Alvarez.
Aston Villa (4-4-2 right to left): 25. Robin Olsen (GK) — 4. Ezri Konsa, 3. Diego Carlos, 17. Clement Lenglet, 12. Lucas Digne — 22. Nicolo Zaniolo (71. Omari Kellyman), 47. Tim Iroegbunam (8. Youri Tielemans), 6. Douglas Luiz (16. Calum Chambers), 27. Morgan Rogers — 19. Moussa Diaby (31. Leon Bailey), 24. Jhon Duran (15. Alex Moreno).
Julian Alvarez and Foden led the City attack and helped to inspire an effervescent opening. Jack Grealish – bizarrely booed by the away supporters as he faced his former club – teed up Argentina forward Alvarez to blaze an early effort into the side netting.
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Rodri opens the scoring at the Etihad for Manchester City!
