Manchester City 3-2 Aston Villa: Pep Guardiola’s men pull off incredible comeback to win the 2021/22 Premier League title

Manchester City needed all three points against an Aston Villa with nothing to lose to secure the 2021/22 Premier League title, and they made sure of it with a comeback 3-1 win. Pep Guardiola made two changes from the team that drew West Ham. He brought in John Stones and Phil Foden to replace former Villa man Jack Grealish and Oleksandr Zinchenko, while Fernandinho got a runout in his final game for the club. Steven Gerrard replaced injured goalkeeper Emi Martinez with Robin Olsen, while Coutinho replaced Carney Chukwuemeka. Since Guardiola has been coach of Manchester City, they have never lost a final day game. There were so many narratives. Gerrard, the iconic Liverpool man, could help his side win the Premier League title.

First Half 

City started the game brightly. They pressed effervescently and forced Villa into uncomfortable situations early on. There was a loud cheer inside five minutes as Pedro Neto gave Wolves the lead. On 24, Villa produced one of their few forays forward, but Ederson punched away. Kevin de Bruyne carried the ball forward well enough, but Foden dragged his shot wide. Lucas Digne had to track back to clear a cutback from Riyad Mahrez before Gabriel Jesus scuffed a shot wide. With their first shot, Villa took the lead on 37. Jacob Ramsey released Digne on the overlap, and his cross was turned in by Matty Cash at the back post. Manchester City 0-1 Aston Villa.

City were rattled, and despite pushing forward consistently, they couldn’t find the final ball/invention they needed. Tyron Mings and Callum Chambers marshaled their defense well until halftime. 

Second Half

Zinchenko came on for Fernandinho and gave the citizens more thrust. On 50, Jesus failed to turn in a cross from Joao Cancelo as they pushed hard for their equalizer. Villa defended well and poked for spaces on the counter. A Rodri shot from outside the box caused a scare as it went wide of the right-hand post. Villa should have doubled their lead on 54 when Watkins raced down on goal, but Aymeric Laporte did enough to put him off before he struck the goalkeeper’s chest. Raheem Sterling replaced Mahrez, and minutes later, Gundogan replaced the uninventive Bernardo Silva. That didn’t help as Villa got their second.

Ollie Watkins headed on for Coutinho, who produced a magnificent first touch before angling past Ederson. Manchester City 0-2 Aston Villa. The ball was in Liverpool’s court. The reds had equalized through Sadio Mane.

Marvelous Makamba replaced Cou as City pressed for something. KDB hit a shot high over after Sterling set him up as the nerves began to set in. Despite Patrice Evra’s comments about personality, City showed a lot of it to score three goals in five minutes and pull off another final day memorable comeback.

Sterling crossed for Gundogan to head home at the back post on 76, and right from their next attack, they equalized. Zinchenko did brilliant work down the left before setting up Rodri to fire home from the edge of the box. Gundogan etched his name in sky blue forever as he stole in at the back post again to tap De Bruyne’s cross home. Unbelievable comeback in Manchester. Who are the mentality monsters now? 

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City won the 2021/22 title on the final day of the season. Pep’s fourth league title in six seasons in England. His 10th in 13 seasons as coach. Spare a thought for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, who always escort them to the title. Bravo Manchester City. Congratulations!!