Manchester City’s Champions League ambitions received a thrilling boost on Tuesday as Matheus Nunes struck a 94th-minute winner to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over Aston Villa. The result lifts City to third in the Premier League table, intensifying the race for Europe’s top club competition.
The match began at a frenetic pace, with Marcus Rashford rattling the post for Villa just 18 seconds in. City responded swiftly, as Bernardo Silva capitalized on a sharp seventh-minute assist from Omar Marmoush, his curling effort slipping past goalkeeper Emi Martinez. Villa leveled through a Rashford penalty after a VAR review confirmed a foul on Jacob Ramsey, but City’s relentless pressure paid off in stoppage time.
Jeremy Doku’s surging run down the left set up Nunes for a decisive close-range finish, sparking euphoria among home fans at the Etihad Stadium. The victory marks City’s 15th consecutive home league win over Villa, while manager Pep Guardiola celebrated passionately on the sidelines.
The result leaves City on 61 points, though they’ve played one more match than rivals Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham. Villa remain seventh, their Champions League hopes dented by the late heartbreak.
With league tension mounting, City’s late heroics underscore their determination to secure a coveted top-four finish. Analysts suggest the win could prove pivotal in a season where margins between success and disappointment grow ever thinner.
