Pep Guardiola’s final game as Manchester City manager ended in defeat but the result was hardly the point here as the Etihad remained in a deeply emotional and commemorative mood.
A crowd of 60,332, the largest in the stadium’s history following its just-concluded expansion, gathered to mark the end of a decade that delivered 17 major trophies. The expanded stand has been renamed the Pep Guardiola Stand.
Alongside the manager were two long-serving club figures in John Stones and captain Bernardo Silva, also making their farewell appearances. Giant tifos celebrated all three before kick-off and there was Guardiola, in a white shirt with a huge P emblazoned on the left breast.
The Spaniard departs after 593 matches in charge but here he lost the last one, City failing to match the farewell mood in the stadium with the perfect ending on the pitch.
But this also speaks to how good Aston Villa actually are. Here fresh from their Europa League triumph under Unai Emery they came from behind to claim victory through an Ollie Watkins double.
City controlled possession early without creating much danger, Villa comfortable absorbing pressure and waiting for openings. The home side’s breakthrough arrived after 23 minutes. From a corner, Lamare Bogarde’s flick-on drifted across the area and Antoine Semenyo reacted quickest at the far post, hooking a finish beyond Marco Bizot to give City the lead.
City continued to dominate territory and came close to a second through Savinho and Tijjani Reijnders, but Villa remained in the contest. The visitors struck back almost immediately after the restart. Leon Bailey’s corner caused confusion and John Stones’ attempted intervention ricocheted kindly for Watkins, who swivelled and finished sharply before celebrating with a mock trophy lift.
Villa grew in confidence. Bailey flashed another chance wide and City, suddenly vulnerable, began to lose their grip. Guardiola patrolled his technical area animated and restless.
But then the cutscene as Silva was withdrawn. Players from both teams formed a guard of honour as the midfielder left the pitch in tears, embraced by teammates and Guardiola, applauded by all four sides of the stadium. Stones received the same treatment later as he returned to the bench.
By then Villa had taken the lead. Watkins timed his run beyond City’s back line, shifted the ball into space and drove calmly past James Trafford for his second of the afternoon. His teammates celebrated by lifting him aloft in another trophy-themed tribute.
City searched for a response. Guardiola, keen on not going out on the losing end, introduced Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki. City thought the equaliser had arrived late on when Phil Foden fired off the crossbar, only for VAR to intervene. The equaliser never came.
