Man City 3-0 Aston Villa: Sterling sparks Citizens win but Fernandinho sees red

After scoring a Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta, Raheem Sterling was on target again as Manchester City beat Aston Villa 3-0.

Match Report

Raheem Sterling capped a fine week of goalscoring with the opener as Manchester City returned to winning ways in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium, beating Aston Villa 3-0.

The England forward scored a hat-trick in City's midweek thrashing of Atalanta and plundered his seventh league goal of the season to help City see off in-form Villa, who matched the champions for 45 minutes.

Villa boss Dean Smith, taking charge of his boyhood club for the 50th time, might have picked up a result had it not been for the swagger with which Sterling is playing this season and he made no mistake when put through at close range just 20 seconds after the restart.

Match Events

5' CLOSE! Jesus' shot inches wide

Sterling jinks past Guilbert and finds David Silva in the box, who passes back to Gundogan. Gundogan fires in a pass to Jesus, who swivels and drags a shot just wide of the right hand post.

19' Engels handball in the box but ref says no penalty!

43' CHANCE! David Silva's shot inches wide

David Silva fires agonisingly wide! City's captain gets on the end of Sterling's cutback with a toepoke from the centre of the box but it rolls painfully past the post.

46' GOAL! Man City 1-0 Aston Villa (Sterling)

Well, that didn't take long. Jesus nods a long ball down to Sterling who races through on goal and rolls his shot under Heaton's legs. A simple goal. All Villa's good work in the first half has been undone in about 20 seconds.

65' GOAL! Man City 2-0 Aston Villa (De Bruyne)

City take the corner short and Mendy passes back to De Bruyne on the left flank. The Belgian curls the ball in with his right foot and David Silva is there to poke it into the net! VAR takes a long look and decides to allow it.

70' GOAL! Man City 3-0 Aston Villa (Gundogan)

City get an 11th corner that finds its way to Bernardo Silva, who fires wide from very close range! Gundogan is on hand to rifle in the rebound from the edge of the box.

Player Ratings

Line-ups

Man City XI: Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Sterling, Cancelo, Mendy, Stones, Ederson, Bernardo, Jesus

Subs: Aguero, Bravo, Otamendi, Walker, Mahrez, Angelino, Foden

Aston Villa XI: T. Heaton, J. Grealish, B. Engels, Guilbert, Trézéguet, J.  McGinn, T.Mings, M. Nakamba, Targett, Wesley, D. Luiz

Subs: N. Taylor, C. Hourihane, H. Lansbury, J. Steer, El Ghazi, E. Konsa, K. Davis