Man City 1-2 Aston Villa: Guardiola, Silva & Stones' final City game ends in bitter defeat

Having waved goodbye to any slim chance of beating Arsenal to the Premier League title on Tuesday, Manchester City finished the week by bidding an emotional farewell to manager Pep Guardiola, who signed off his 10-year stint with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

Match Report 

You would be forgiven for expecting a slightly subdued mood at the Etihad given City had lost the title race and their once-in-a-generation leader all in the space of a few days. But Guardiola was not leaving without the send-off he deserved.

Manchester, a city the Spaniard loves and respects for its grafting roots, would not let him.

The Etihad was heartened by the presence of Guardiola on the touchline for one final time. He indulged in the festivities with plenty of smiles and waves, and even tears, albeit he chose not to celebrate Antoine Semenyo's opener in the 23rd minute, scored from a scrappy set-play.

Hardly vintage Pep-ball.

But the second half offered more by way of class and quality, predominantly from spoilers Villa. After looking uninterested before the interval, Unai Emery's Europa League winners sparked into life to score twice in 14 minutes and turn the game on its head.

Ollie Watkins netted both, the second a particularly impressive feat of skill and composure, rounding off a superb week for the World Cup-bound striker, who took his Premier League goal tally to 16.

Pep's parade might have been muted, with the 'oles' coming from the away end rather than the home crowd, but the locals got what they came to see, the scoreline almost immaterial.

The afternoon included touching tributes to club legends Bernardo Silva and John Stones on their final appearances for the club. In truth, such poignancy rather overtook the football. City failed to land a single shot on target in the second period, while Villa generated five and still missed two big chances to hammer home their advantage.

Phil Foden did have the ball in the back of the net only to be denied by VAR late on - the defeat marking only the 53rd time Guardiola has lost a game across an entire decade. A quite astonishing record for a truly remarkable manager.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Match Event for Man City vs Aston Villa

0' Silva substituted, both teams line up farewell, then embraces Guardiola in tears

4' Highlight from Man City vs Aston Villa

10' Highlight from Man City vs Aston Villa

13' B. Silva's tight-angle shot is blocked out

20' Match Event for Man City vs Aston Villa

22' Joe Hart is in attendance watching the match

23' GOAL! Own assist from Villa, Semmyo finishes. Man City 1-0 Aston Villa

29' Lewis with slick turn and pass, Savinho shot just wide

32' Ederson, Gündoğan, and Fernandinho all came to watch the match

34' Reijnders volley over from Semmyo touch

37' Injured Haaland spectates from stands

43' Reijnders with close-range shot, Bizot with brilliant save

46' GOAL! Stones miscue gifts Watkins tap-in. Man City 1-1 Aston Villa

50' Bailey beats Dias, but curling shot wildly wide

62' GOAL! Barkley assist, Watkins cool low finish. Man City 1-2 Aston Villa

68' Cherki with long-range shot, just wide

79' Highlight from Man City vs Aston Villa

81' Highlight from Man City vs Aston Villa

86' Highlight from Man City vs Aston Villa

Line-ups

Man City XI: Ake, Stones, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Reijnders, Antoine Semenyo, Nico González, James Trafford, Lewis, Savinho

Subs: Kovacic, Bettinelli, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Matheus Nunes, Cherki, Doku, Gvardiol, Max Alleyne

Aston Villa XI: Lindelof, Marco Bizot, Barkley, Mings, Ollie Watkins, Buendia, Bailey, Douglas Luiz, Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Andrés García

Subs: Digne, McGinn, Tielemans, P. Torres, Matty Cash, Amadou Onana, James Wright, George Hemmings, Bradley Burrowes