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Manchester City 2-0 Aston Villa: Top of the League

By J.C. Gonzalez

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on January 20, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Martin Rickett - Pool/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Bernardo Silva of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on January 20, 2021 in Manchester, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Martin Rickett - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City were so close to being denied by Aston Villa in an end-to-end affair that will go down as one of the best games of the season to this point, but Bernardo Silva’s late goal sent City to the league summit for the first time in 522 days.

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Both City and Villa went head to head, creating incredible chances cleared in some cases by inches, but in the end, it was a wonder strike from Silva that gave City all three points to put the resurgent home side back at the top. It’s more than deserved, given the way City have played recently, they have been the league’s most consistent and best team.

Nevertheless, Emiliano Martínez and the Villa defense nearly turned in a heroic performance to grab a point, but in the end, City did enough to get the result, and sealed it with a late İlkay Gündoğan penalty.

Villa created plenty of danger and deserve credit in their own right, but Rúben Dias and John Stones held firm to seal yet another clean sheet for England’s most in-form defensive partnership. It has been far too long since City were at the league’s summit, a position they may lose depending on the outcome of Man United’s match against Fulham, but in either case, the Blues will have a game in hand on their local rivals.

Next. Manchester City 4-0 Crystal Palace: A Dominant Display. dark

A thrilling, enthralling, end-to-end match looked all but set to end in “typical City” fashion, 0-0 against lesser opposition, but this team showed the heart of champions and refused to be beaten. They are firmly the favorites now.