10/24/2026 09:20:00
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10/24 09:18 CDT Man City's perfect start to Premier League season ends with a
2-1 loss at Aston Villa
Man City's perfect start to Premier League season ends with a 2-1 loss at Aston
Villa
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
MANCHESTER, England (AP) --- Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier
League season ended Saturday with a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa.
Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for Villa against Enzo Maresca's City, which
was aiming for an eighth straight win in the league.
It also extended Villa's outstanding recent run to six wins from seven games in
all competitions.
"It is incredible. It was difficult but we got the win and that is the most
important thing," Jackson said. "We know City are a strong team and now we can
focus on the next one."
Jackson is up to seven goals for the season in all competitions. He fired the
opener inside six minutes at Villa Park.
Erling Haaland headed City level in the second half, but Jackson got his second
and the winner with a first-time finish that squirmed under goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Villa resurgence
Villa is rapidly climbing the standings after a desperate start to the campaign
saw it fail to win any of its opening four games in the league, picking up just
one point during that run.
Such a difficult start was understandable after a hugely disruptive offseason,
which saw a raft of star players leave the club, including Morgan Rogers, Ollie
Watkins, Ezri Konsa, Emi Martinez and Youri Tielemans.
Unai Emery, who transformed the club from relegation battler to Champions
League contender, was forced to rebuild a team that won the Europa League last
season and has done that in double-quick time.
Villa's last defeat was a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest on Sept. 12. Since then
Emery's team has gone from strength to strength with six wins and one draw in
all.
City fell to a fourth defeat at Villa Park in as many seasons.
"Emery is just a tactical genius. Especially against Man City at our place we
have been really good," said Villa defender Matty Cash. "He always has a plan
for something and is always coming up with new ideas. When you play against top
teams you have to adapt and I think we did that today."
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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