Even as Aston Villa turned back time to the Great Depression, they have rarely been happier. Unai Emery made club history as he established a belated first in his career. As Villa equalled a club record of 14 straight home league wins, last set in 1930-31, Emery finally beat Pep Guardiola, at the 14th time of asking. In the process, they sent the treble winners down to fourth, Villa leapfrogging them. Emery may try to ignore talk of the Champions League, but no Villa side of the 21st century has looked as capable of securing a top-four finish. Carry on like this and this one could yet challenge for the title.
But for Guardiola and City, these are strange, disconcerting times. The Catalan said he had the feeling they will retain the title, but it is feeling harder for a side on their longest winless run in six-and-a-half years or for one who were outplayed by the upstart challengers from the Midlands. Villa had 22 shots to City’s two, a sign of a startling level of dominance against the champions. A fourth match without victory ended a run of three draws and came with the rare sight of City reeling: they had survived wave after wave of Villa attack but just when it seemed Emery’s statement of intent may still result in a stalemate, the electric Leon Bailey delivered the goal his excellence and ebullience deserved.
