well what a game we have in store for you today the hype has been building
all week and we're just moments away from kickoff time stay tuned for the live action
hello to you wherever you happen to be our action comes to you today from villa park
my name is derek ray and sitting next to me here on the commentary gantry
is the former arsenal and west ham united midfield man stuart robson and it's all
about action from the premier league in this case it's aston villa facing manchester city
well derek as is always the case the team that dominates midfield will be the team
that controls the flow of the game and that for me is the area that's key today
here's how the lineup looks for aston villa well in this shape if they're wide players stay
high up the pitch and get enough of the ball it's a very attacking lineup if they drop too
deep they will then leave the center forward isolated and it could be difficult for them
and so they started 11 for manchester city ederson gets the golden goal kyle walker plays with joel
cancello in the fullback positions kevin de bruyne plays alongside rodri in the center of midfield
and the idea is to have just the one striker up there trying to pose problems for the opposition
and now they get the ball rolling
jack relish and it's ruben diash stones
and the attack looks promising
oh he's gone for goal priority was to hang on to the ball which he did ollie watkins
emiliano buendia possession and patience the watchwords
target and that is offside
riyad mahrez
rodrigue on the ball ruben dies joao cancello
there bernardo silva
which is a decent looking attack here
douglas louise
oh beating his opponent with ease electing to cross into the center
and there it is the opening goal one nil and they'll feel they deserve it
let's see this again because the delivery into the box couldn't be any better played into just
the right area and the movement is good making for a comfortable finish it's a really great goal
so underway again here one nil to score
rodriguez
not finding its targets
tyrone mings
bailey
can sense the threat is there delivered into the box not away completely
well they survived the attack
joao cancelo high quality defending
and the browner in a useful looking position but will there be an end product
and a really good diving stop
and he's fired over the corner well they haven't overcome all the difficulties
no problems for the keeper
the brain is threading it through and it's gone in just what was needed for
manchester city who now have squared
well here's the goal again and what a wonderfully weighted pass this is
and then the shot could not be hit any better struck with such venom great goal
he's enjoying space
but nothing comes of it
joao cancello
another successful intervention winning the ball back not a huge chunk of added time one minute
and the whistle is sounded for half time in this game
well he's been a long way from his best up front stuart well i've been
disappointed with him so far he just hasn't worked hard enough to
receive the ball and as a result he's hardly had a shot on target
the two teams have switched around and are ready now for the second half
said he could be on to something
takes it off and in oh yes exactly what they were hoping to produce they've delivered the goal
well here we can see it again look at the way he glides past the defender to create
space for himself but there's still plenty to do from here he hits it so well though
lots of pace lots of power and the keeper just can't react in time it's a great strike
on with the match 2-1 there's the scoreline what's going to happen next
happy to pass the ball but remaining patient bailey
and they'll be happy to have regained possession they're trying to get right into his face
mcginn
douglas louise and will it be the level up oh great block
well just listen to the fans they know this is a big chance here
substitutions here
when dia
cuts it back not a shame that he couldn't find the target from there
ruben diaz
it's worth joao cancello great challenge he got nothing but ball well as you can see villa
have completely dominated the possession in the last 15 minutes and they've played some
good football it's just now about taking one of those chances to get back into the game
joao cancello the ball with rodri stones de bruyne
now will they be able to play it in behind the defense rodri fernando silva
just made sure nothing came of that and that is going to be a free kick
they will now make use of the substitutes bench
to extend their lead here and it goes calmly conversing
well here it is again the keeper tries to read the penalty but
in the end he just makes no effort whatsoever that's a strange decision
goalkeeper's ball every day of the week
it's there for him well diving magnificently to make sure he got there
oh a very fine header but it wouldn't go in for him so now a corner
playing it in oh cleared off the line alert defending it certainly wasn't a clean tackle
and the referee has got to book him i think
well deemed to have been a cautionable offense well
no question about it he deserved his book in there
long way out this well the free kick was on target
but the goalkeeper acquitted himself magnificently to hang on to that
well he went strongly into the challenge and the result is a throw in
and bernardo silva has it
no problems for the keeper
leon bailey
john mcginn
here's matty cash mcginn and now bailey
and a fine cross and the threat was there but the keeper did brilliantly
but fists it away by the goalkeeper
here's bayley john mcginn
esri concert and there goes the final whistle a real sense of feel good for city fans everywhere
they take the three points from this game what did you make of it
yes derek fairly comfortable in the end wasn't it but they controlled the middle of the park for the
most part and going forward there was some really nice incisive plays as well good result for them
kevin de bruyne incisive and influential how would you sum up what you saw from the belgian
well he certainly had an impact on the result not least from 12 yards
he always looked confident though you just didn't expect him to miss