Manchester City suffered another defeat in the Premier League, their sixth in the last eight matches, this time against Aston Villa managed by Unai Emery. At Villa Park, Pep Guardiola’s side was once again outplayed, just as they were in the previous season, showing that the crisis surrounding the Citizens continues with no signs of improvement.

Villa, who already surprised City at home last season, capitalized on Guardiola's team's mistakes to leapfrog them in the standings. Goals from Jhon Durán and Morgan Rogers gave Emery's team control of the match, earning them three valuable points in their fight for the top positions in the league.

The City side, however, showed their nervousness from the very start. Less than two minutes into the match, Josko Gvardiol made an error that led to a one-on-one chance for Durán, which was saved by goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. Shortly after, in the ensuing corner, a header from the near post forced Ortega to clear the ball against the crossbar. The anxiety was palpable among the City players, who struggled to find their rhythm.

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Just a week after the Manchester United comeback in the final minutes, City once again showed vulnerability. Only fifteen minutes into the first half, the team conceded the first blow, stemming from a failure to press Youri Tielemans, who, with all the time in the world, made a precise pass that left Durán in front of goal. The Colombian, who has scored four goals in the last four matches, calmly finished to give Villa the lead.

Villa takes control of the match

Despite Emiliano Martínez not facing many dangerous shots, Villa dominated the match with an organized and aggressive style, especially in the second half. Rogers, who had assisted on the first goal, came close to scoring after hitting the post with a shot following a backheel from Durán. Moments later, Rogers was the one to initiate and finish the move for the second goal. Rogers started from midfield, leaving two players behind, and with a great individual run, he scored with a well-placed cross shot that left Ortega with no chance.

The passivity of the City defense was evident, with Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji unable to stop Rogers, who calmly slotted home the 2-0. This goal sealed the victory for Aston Villa, who have proven to be a tough team to beat at Villa Park under Emery, who has turned this stadium into a fortress for the second consecutive season.

Although Manchester City managed to pull one back in the final minutes thanks to an error by Lucas Digne, who allowed Phil Foden to score - his first goal in this Premier League - there was not enough time for a comeback. The defeat leaves City with only one win in their last twelve matches and serious doubts about their form in the league.

While Aston Villa continues to rise, with four victories in their last five matches, now in fifth place with 28 points, Manchester City drops to sixth and could be overtaken by teams like Bournemouth, Fulham, and Brighton in the next round.