Aston Villa vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight after Leon Bailey earns draw
Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester City: Leon Bailey responded after Erling Haaland’s opener to deny the champions
Another goal from Erling Haaland wasn’t enough for Manchester City this time as Leon Bailey’s second-half equalizer salvaged a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa against the defending champion in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Haaland took his tally to 10 goals from six games by volleying in a cross from Kevin de Bruyne in the 50th minute but then missed two chances to score a second before Villa struck back.
Bailey met a low cross from Jacob Ramsey and hammered a first-time shot high into the net in the 74th to rescue a valuable point for Villa, whose manager Steven Gerrard was under heavy pressure after three straight league losses.
For City, it’s a second draw to go with four wins in the opening six games, leaving it tied for second place with Tottenham on points. Leader Arsenal has a chance to go four points clear on Sunday if it can maintain its perfect record when it travels to Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola’s City has made a habit of going two goals down before rallying, but this time it was their turn to relinquish the lead.
Haaland had been quiet in the first half but showed his predatory instincts when he came flying in at the far post to meet a pinpoint cross from De Bruyne, jumping high to side-foot the ball in.
The towering Norway striker forced two good saves from Emiliano Martinez as City pushed for a second goal.
That left the visitors open to counterattacks, though, and Ramsey had already squandered one such opportunity with a heavy touch by the time he set up Bailey for the equalizer.
Midfielder Rodri came closest to a winner for City when his shot from outside the area crept narrowly wide in the 87th.
Erling Haaland’s superb start continues but Villa hit back to draw with Man City
Erling Haaland became only the second player in Premier League history to reach 10 goals in their first six appearances but Manchester City failed to make their dominance count as Leon Bailey secured a much-needed draw for Aston Villa.
City’s 22-year-old striker has sparkled since swapping Borussia Dortmund for his father’s former club in the summer and followed back-to-back hat-tricks with another effort on Saturday evening.
Haaland nudged home Kevin De Bruyne’s inch-perfect cross early in the second half and the pair toyed with Villa at times, only for City to be caught cold by Bailey’s fizzing strike in a 1-1 draw.
Erling Haaland’s superb start continues but Villa hit back to draw with Man City
City’s 22-year-old striker has sparkled since swapping Borussia Dortmund for his father’s former club in the summer.
FT Aston Villa 1-1 Man City
Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez added: “We talked in the week about commitment, every player who came on or played in the XI gave that extra 1% to get the result. Not easy to go 1-0 down straight after the second half but the character gave us a lift and we had more chances to score
“Sometimes you have nothing to do for 45 minutes but my job is to keep the team in the game and use my strength. Leon [Bailey] scored a good goal and all the saves count.
“When we’re in a bad run I’m the first one to take the blame. I normally try to save my team and obviously after Arsenal I was gutted. I’m happy to take some credit for the saves today.”
FT Aston Villa 1-1 Man City
Aston Villa goalscorer Leon Bailey spoke to Sky Sports after the game about what it feels like to take a point off the Premier League champions.
“I woke up this morning and felt good about today, I knew today would be a good day for us.” he said, “We stayed confident and believed in ourselves, the experienced players and the new players in the group really lifted the spirits and that’s important going into a big game. Everybody was working for each other, it wasn’t going our way in the first half but we just stuck in there.
“I couldn’t tell you why I had a good feeling, maybe seeing how we were in training and everyone helping one another I was excited and I thought we would get something out of the game today.
“A lot of credit to [Steven] Gerrard because going into a big important game he didn’t let anyone feel pressure and that was important for the team. Everyone understands we were in a tough situation but he just wanted us to bring the best version of ourselves on the pitch and we did that today.”
FT Aston Villa 1-1 Man City
Erling Haaland has scored 10 goals in Manchester City’s six Premier League games this season - this is the earliest into a Premier League season any player has reached 10+ goals.
Haaland’s 10 goals also came in his first six Premier League appearances for Manchester City, the joint-fastest a player has reached 10 goals in the competition’s history, alongside Mick Quinn back in December 1992.
FT Aston Villa 1-1 Man City
FT Aston Villa 1-1 Man City
Manchester City are undefeated in their last 18 games in the Premier League, their longest run since 19 games from November 2020 to March 2021.
Full-time: Aston Villa 1-1 Man City
90+4 mins: There’s the final whistle and the points are shared! Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions have to settle for just one point.
That keeps them in second place behind Arsenal who face Manchester United tomorrow. This result will feel like a win for the under pressure Steven Gerrard.
Villa are now just above the relegation zone but this was a much improved performance and they take a deserved point from the game.
Aston Villa 1-1 Man City
90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play.
Joao Cancelo weaves into the left side of the box but the ball comes loose to Phil Foden who takes a snapshot and forces Emi Martinez into a sharp save to his right.
Leon Bailey goes off with Emiliano Buendia brought on for Villa.
Aston Villa 1-1 Man City
89 mins: Mahrez hooks a shot wide of goal after Haaland and Gundogan combined to creat an overload at the back post. The offside flag went up anyway so the goal wouldn’t have counted.
Man City are getting closer to scoring though.
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