Manchester City have taken a big step towards securing their seat at Europe's top table next season after Matheus Nunes struck a dramatic late winner against Aston Villa.
The Blues are up to third in the table after the makeshift right-back tucked away Jeremy Doku's cross in the fourth minute of injury time at the Etihad. The win damages Villa's chances of finishing in the top five and secures victory in what was, on paper, City's toughest remaining fixture.
They had taken an early lead when Bernardo Silva's seventh-minute shot crept past Emi Martinez after good work by Omar Marmoush, but the advantage was wiped out when Marcus Rashford, who had hit the post inside 20 seconds, scored from the penalty spot.
City were furious at the decision to penalise Ruben Dias for a trip on Jacob Ramsay, with referee Craig Pawson turning down the penalty appeals on the pitch before being sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR John Brooks.
The frustration bubbled away but City had the last laugh when Nunes scored, sparking wild scenes from Pep Guardiola on the touchline and in the stands.
Follow below for pre-match build-up, live match updates and post-match reaction from a huge night at the Etihad.
Pep's initial reaction
We are not used to it so I am really happy. We are in the last four games, we know Champions League contenders like Aston Villa, they are one of the top teams in Europe.
We played very good. Aggressive in our duels and back four were unbelievable. Really pleased.
Football is emotion. The last two games were so difficult so we are really pleased.
I was so happy. I have to admit it! Try to not lose as 1-1 was not a bad result but the action from Jeremy [Doku] was so good.
The team fought a lot. The performance was really good. It is a fantastic team.
The season has been bad. It doesn't matter about the final or if we finish in Champions League.
What makes you feel good is the Premier League. It happened and sometimes you have bad seasons. Liverpool will be champions and the level of teams is outstanding.
Nunes reacts
Very important and this was a very tough game. Very tough opponent and we came with the mentality that we needed to win this game.
We are going to see at the end of the season how big this win is going to be. Every three points now till the end of the season is going to be very important.
Ruben Dias reaction
They [Aston Villa] are on the run with us to this top five and it was a special game to get the three points.
Four games to go and all of them will be massively important. Important today to get the three points.
We know how tight it is and how tight it's going to be till the end. It is a massive step for us.
This means everything to us. We know exactly the circumstances we are in. Top four and top five means everything to us. This is our Premier League to us.
Wild reaction
Pep Guardiola's vintage stars are doing it their way. Manchester City took control in the Champions League race by scoring a last-minute winner at the Etihad to move up into third place in the Premier League with just four games to go.
The roar at the Etihad was hearty, the celebrations on the touchline and on the pitch wild, and the relief vast. City had done it the hard way, but they had done it and will now really fancy their chances of achieving their 'minimum' objective of staying at the top table of European football.
A draw would have been taken by Blues when the team news dropped and many did not feel great about a midfield packed again with exclusively 30-somethings matching one that had monstered them in the reverse fixture. Guardiola has stuck with his golden oldies, or 'legendary players' as he calls them and they are starting to show the results to back it up.
Read our match analysis here
Player ratings
Manchester City picked up three points at home to Aston Villa as Matheus Nunes scored an injury-time winner. Marcus Rashford saw his shot come back off the post inside the opening minute but City took control of the game when Bernardo Silva lashed home soon after.
That should have given Pep Guardiola's side the initiative, yet they threw it away when poor play saw them give a penalty away that Rashford converted. City disputed it, but few others would.
The Blues had the better of a second half that saw both teams seek decisions from the officials, and then substitute Jeremy Doku found Nunes at the back post with almost the last kick of the game.
Here are the player ratings for the City players.
FT: City 2 Villa 1
A massive win for City, who move up to third in the Premier League table and take a massive step towards next season's Champions League.
City 2 Villa 1
Nunes wins it at the death! A low cross from Doku goes all the way across the six-yard box and Nunes is there to finish at the back post
Villa pushing
Villa have made all five changes to City's one and that freshness is showing. They are having a good spell. Three minutes to play.
Marmoush has the ball in the net
Marmoush has the ball in the net but the goal is ruled out for offside. Flag went up when the ball went in and although it's tight he was off.
Rashford off
A chorus of boos as the lively United loanee Rashford is replaced by Ollie Watkins. Onana also off for Marco Asensio.
Doku is on
First change for City as Jeremy Doku comes on for the impressive James McAtee
Gvardiol booked
Gvardiol the latest to see yellow for a foul on Tielemans.
Still 1-1 with 20 minutes to play. Game on a knife-edge at the moment.
McAtee mis-kick
O'Reilly with a low cross that McAatee doesn't make clear contact with and the ball dribbles safely towards Martinez in the Villa goal.
Chances at both ends
Kovacic with a low drive from 20 yards forces Martinez into a save. At the other end Rashford races in behind and rounds Ortega but the angle is against him and he can only hit the side-netting.
McAtee goes close
De Bruyne with a beatiful outside of the boot ball to McAtee, who lobs Martinez with his left foot but sees the ball drop just wide.
Set-pieces building
City are enjoying a string of corners against Villa, with at least six in the last five minutes. Guardiola raves about just about every other team in terms of set pieces compared to City but Villa are not comfortable having to defend these dead balls so regularly. It’s adding to the feeling of City being in top this half, but they’re yet to really test Martinez.
O'Reilly and McAtee impressing
O'Reilly is having another good game and has just slashed a volley wide. McAtee wins praise from Guardiola for his pressing that earns City a corner. Dias volleys the resulting corner goalwards and it's blocked by Kamara. Marmoush with a shot deflected wide from the next corner.
Early City pressure
City putting the pressure early in the second half. A couple of corners in quick succession and a devilish De Bruyne delivery for a free-kick that Konsa just got to first to steer behind.
Rogers booked
Morgan Rogers back at the Etihad and in the book after pulling back Nico O'Reilly.
Time to let the football do the talking
Bernardo Silva sought out the officials at half-time before he left the pitch and he has done the same in the tunnel before coming back out for the second half. Given they have little to moan about for the penalty, they’re probably best focusing on beating Villa with their football in this second half.
The ratings
Ortega 6
Nunes 5
Dias 5
Gvardiol 7
O'Reilly 6
Kovacic 6
Silva 7
Gundogan 6
De Bruyne 5
McAtee 6
Marmoush 6
HT: City 1 Villa 1
An entertaining game at the Etihad and a controversial one as far as City are concerned. The whole bench erupted with anger just before the break when Ilkay Gundogan was denied a free-kick.
We go in level, however. Bernardo Silva's goal cancelled out by Marcus Rashford's penalty.
Chances at both ends
Marmoush heads over at one end and Rashford gets on to a Digne ball over the top at the other, but Ortega is out and gets close enough to his attempt to lift the ball over him.
Gvardiol vs Rogers
There’s a great battle going on between Morgan Rogers and Josko Gvardiol, who is taking the responsibility for the aerial duels when Villa try to hit Rogers. The City man is having the better of it so far but he’s needing a bit of help from O’Reilly to keep that side locked up and is using every bit of his experience.
Digne booked
Villa left-back Lucas Digne goes into the referee's book after a late challenge on De Bruyne
City seek justice from officials
The penalty call was right but City did not see it that way and that means that the players are now over to the referee with every decision that they think should go their way. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they end up getting a favourable decision as a result of that pressure - I think that’s what is known as home advantage.
Premier League explain penalty call
#MCIAVL – 15’ VAR OVERTURN
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) April 22, 2025
VAR checked the referee’s call of no penalty to Aston Villa for a challenge by Dias on Ramsey – and deemed there was a clear trip and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and awarded a penalty to Aston Villa.
Martinez tactic
Emi Martinez is taking an awfully long time to get rid of the ball. He has it in his arms for a long time and he has it on the floor for a long time. The crowd are whistling him but it is all designed to bait City into moving so that Villa can spring an attack when they do. You’d have to say it’s having some success as well.
