Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa – Betting Review
Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 market first. The huge favourite for this match was Man City who bounced back with a bang, given that they had a point to prove after losing to Tottenham last time out. City cruised to win for backers @ 1.30.
Moving onto the Asian handicap betting for this contest. As flagged up in the preview, Manchester City would want to conserve legs with an eye on Arsenal in a crucial match-up midweek. The host did manage to do that, but thanks to inflicting enough damage in the first half, they beat the handicap and still relaxed the entire second period! City -1.75 @ 2.00 produced a half win / half push for their backers.
Looking at The Under/Over goal line last of all which was set at 3.25. City made the statement win they wanted and thanks to a consolation goal for Aston Villa in a dull second half, Overs won @ 2.01.
Match Summary
Manchester City sent out an extremely strong side and based on their dominant first-half showing, also sent out an extremely strong message to Arsenal that they mean business.
The host scored early and peppered an opponent that couldn’t deal with their quality when playing their best. Thanks to a goal right before halftime it was well and truly game over at 3-0, with City then able to stroll through a procession of a second period.
Aston Villa got one goal back around the hour but this match was never again competitive, Villa struck the bar in added time but Manchester City was already thinking about the Arsenal match midweek well before then. Fair score 3-1.
Keeping their focus on the football and not matters off the pitch, a rampant Manchester City piled the pressure on Arsenal in an impressive win over Emery’s team.
Ahead of their showdown with the table-topping Gunners on Wednesday, it was a statement showing thanks to a fast start and tremendous first half, in which time they had already won the match leading 3-0.
There weren’t even five minutes on the clock when Rodri headed home from a corner for 1-0.
The home side thought they’d doubled their advantage soon after but Haaland was adjudged to have fouled the Villa keeper before the ball was tapped in.
It was only a reprieve for Villa though, with the returning Calum Chambers inadvertently heading beyond his own keeper several minutes later. Haaland was first to the loose ball and set up Gündoğan to convert for 2-0.
The game was then over as a contest just before the break when Ramsey’s clumsy challenge on Jack Grealish allowed Mahrez to confidently bag from the spot.
The home side played in a low gear in a dull second half. City’s complacency came back to bite them though, as Bernardo Silva lost possession and Douglas Luiz set up Ollie Watkins for a consolation goal.
It was always going to be difficult for Villa to claw back the two goals more, but Philippe Coutinho curling effort forcing Ederson to make a fine stop to ensure a nervy ending didn’t ensue at the Etihad Stadium.
Mahrez could have added a 4th but he sent his late strike from six yards into orbit due to a little bobble just as he hit the ball.
It was immaterial as was much of the second half, though late on Villa also struck the bar from a fantastic effort just outside the box. 3-2 would however have sounded misleading as the home side bossed this match from the start and then put their feet up in the 2nd period.
