Man City have ‘already been condemned’ – Guardiola on breaches
Manchester City return to action for the first time since being charged with over 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules as they host Aston Villa this afternoon.
The Premier League holders come into the match under a cloud of scrutiny as an independent commission determines whether they are guilty of the charges and face exclusion from the top flight. City have insisted there is “irrefutable evidence” to prove their innocence and manager Pep Guardiola defended the club on Friday saying: “I am fully convinced that we will be innocent”.
On the pitch, Man City need to respond to their 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in their previous outing but a 1-1 between Arsenal and Brentford yesterday means they can close the gap on the league leaders to just three points if they defeat Aston Villa today. Meanwhile, Unai Emery’s men hope to bounce back from a 4-2 loss to Leicester last time out but should expect a difficult time of things at the Etihad Stadium.
Earlier, late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho earned Manchester United a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Leeds. It meant United leap-frogged City into second place having played two games more.
Follow all the action as Man City host Aston Villa in the Premier League, following the earlier clash between Leeds and Man Utd:
GOAL! Man City 3-0 Aston Villa (Mahrez, 45+1)⚽️
45+1 mins: Riyad Mahrez ends up with the spot kick and blasts it past Emi Martinez to earn Manchester City a third goal before half-time.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 17:17
Penalty to Man City!
44 mins: Jack Grealish cuts across the front of Jacob Ramsey as the ball is slipped into the box. There’s contact between the players and Grealish goes down.
The referee wastes no time in pointing to the spot.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 17:16
Man City 2-0 Aston Villa
42 mins: Manchester City are comfortable now. They’re bossing the game and have a two goal lead.
Kevin De Bruyne is brought down by Douglas Luiz and the referee awards a free kick to City. De Bruyne and Jack Grealish complain that Luiz hasn’t been booked before Ruben Dias comes sprinting up to protest as well.
The referee hears Dias’ protests and books him for dissent.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 17:14
GOAL! Man City 2-0 Aston Villa (Gundogan, 39’)⚽️
39 mins: Another one! Kevin De Bruyne sends the ball forward and Calum Chambers fails to deal with it. His attempted clearance just puts the ball into no-man’s land and Erling Haaland sprints over to keep it in play.
He beats Emi Martinez to the ball, cuts inside then curls a pass over to the back post where Ilkay Gundogan arrives for a tap in.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 17:11
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
38 mins: De Bruyne lifts the ball into the middle and aims for Rodri. Boubacar Kamara sticks with him and does enough to distract the City goalscorer who nods his effort wide of the far post.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 17:09
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
36 mins: Lucas Digne is drawn into a contest with Riyad Mahrez and brings down the winger over to the side of his own penalty area.
The Aston Villa defender earns a yellow card and City have the chance to get the ball into the box. Kevin De Bruyne is going to take this free kick.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 17:08
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
33 mins: De Bruyne makes a run in space down the right channel and is perfectly picked out by Rodri. De Bruyne spins around Kamara and runs into the box before squaring a pass over to Erling Haaland.
Haaland peels away from Ezri Konsa but the defender intercepts the pass and boots it away.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 17:04
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
30 mins: Man City look hungry today. Kevin De Bruyne receives the ball and carries up towards the box.
He slides a pass into the feet of Jack Grealish who rolls it onto his right foot and blasts one at goal only to be denied by Emi Martinez who palms the ball wide of the far post.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 17:01
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
28 mins: Manchester City win a free kick and knock the ball into the box. It falls for Bernardo Silva who drills a shot at goal and strikes Ezri Konsa on the arm.
His hands were by his side and Ruben Dias was blocking his vision but VAR takes a look at a possible handball. Nothing comes from it.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 16:59
Man City 1-0 Aston Villa
25 mins: Boubacar Kamara receives the ball as Aston Villa whip a cross into the box from the left. He brings it under control before lifting a dainty pass into the middle where Emiliano Buendia leaps towards it and nods a chance wide of the nearest post.
Decent response from Aston Villa.
Michael Jones12 February 2023 16:56
