Keeping a clean sheet against Manchester City is no mean feat, but Aston Villa did just that on Sunday afternoon, restricting Erling Haaland in the process.
It was something of a tactical masterclass from Unai Emery, with Aston Villa putting in an organised, compact display to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side.
A fine Matty Cash goal was the difference between the two teams, with Man City unable to form a meaningful response despite an improved showing in the second half.
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Plenty of Villa players stood out. Morgan Rogers was ‘elegant’ in the playmaker role, while Amadou Onana ran the show in the middle of the park. Turns out, it was all part of the plan for Emery.
Unai Emery in the dugout at the Stadium of Light before Sunderland vs Aston Villa in the Premier League
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Aston Villa needed ‘everything’ to stop Erling Haaland
Speaking after the game, the Villa boss revealed the tactical thinking he and his team put together before the clash at Villa Park, with a particular focus on stopping Erling Haaland from making his mark on the game.
Emery said: “We tried tactically and in individual performance to get duels with him, intelligently, with the power we showed. Then we had some help from defensive cover and also the goalkeeper. We needed everything to stop him.”
Interestingly, Emi Martinez was earmarked by Guardiola before the game as the man who could cause City problems.
But, for the Man City boss, it’s more a case of his team not creating enough chances and being clinical enough that is playing on his mind now.
After the final whistle, Guardiola said: “We haven’t scored a lot of goals this season and we have to make a step up. Today it is difficult because they defended really well. We were there, we were close. In the games we won we were not so productive.
“They track you in high positions and after they link behind, they have the ability to keep that ball, it is not easy and when you cannot win those duels it’s more difficult.”
Erling Haaland in action for Manchester City against Juventus at the FIFA Club World Cup
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Erling Haaland and Man City have been frustrated by Aston Villa again
It was yet another frustrating trip to Villa Park for Haaland and his Man City teammates. That’s now four seasons in a row that City have failed to get a win there, and three consecutive away defeats against Aston Villa.
As part of that run, Haaland has failed to score in his last three visits to the ground. Just like Tottenham Hotspur, it’s clear that Villa have a strong sense of how to deal with Manchester City and their star man.
Club Games Goals Assists
Manchester City 158 139 22
Borussia Dortmund 89 86 23
Molde FK 50 20 6
Red Bull Salzburg 27 29 7
Erling Haaland career to date – as of 26/10/25
And, as we have seen time and time again, if you can cut off the supply to Haaland and limit his time on the ball, you’re going to have a good chance of getting a result.
It’s no wonder Bacary Sagna overlooked Haaland when naming the best player in the Premier League. That honour goes to the Norwegian striker’s teammate, Rodri, who the former Arsenal and City defender branded ‘smart’ and whom he praised for ‘always being on the right spot’.
To be fair to Haaland, though, the odd off day can be forgiven, when you consider the fact he’s already scored 15 goals in 12 games this season for Man City.