Erling Haaland strained every sinew, accelerating to full pace to get to the ball ahead of his man. Having won the foot race, there came the swing of that lethal left boot...
and Manchester City briefly cleared the ball away from their own penalty area. Villa Park erupted with more noise and the home side went on the attack again.
Pep Guardiola's side have been involved in some strange games lately and this certainly ticked the box as Villa did to City in the first half what City normally do to every other team they face.
The press was high, intense and precise, forcing errors from the Premier League champions near their own goal that led to numerous chances and a visiting side grateful to Ederson that they could go in level; the Brazilian made a string of saves as Villa had more shots on target in the opening 45 minutes than Tottenham or Liverpool managed over 90 against the Premier League champions. ALSO READ: Man City player ratings as Josko Gvardiol and Bernardo Silva poor ALSO READ: Why Kevin De Bruyne is in Man City squad for Club World Cup If City were relieved to get in at half-time with the scores level, they could not last the 90.