Aston Villa ended Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League season with an impressive 2-1 victory at Villa Park on Saturday, October 24, as Nicolas Jackson scored twice to inspire Unai Emery's side to a memorable win.
Jackson opened the scoring inside six minutes before Erling Haaland equalised shortly after half-time. However, the Senegalese striker struck again in the 60th minute to secure all three points for the hosts.
Manchester City entered the encounter having won their opening seven league matches, but Aston Villa produced a disciplined performance to hand Enzo Maresca's side their first Premier League defeat of the campaign.
Villa made an aggressive start, pressing high and putting City's defence under immediate pressure.
Their early intensity paid off in the sixth minute when Jackson capitalised on defensive uncertainty to put the hosts ahead and send the Villa Park crowd into celebration.
City gradually settled into the contest and began dominating possession, with Jeremy Doku and Iliman Ndiaye providing attacking threats from the flanks.
Ndiaye came close to equalising in the 28th minute when his effort struck the post as City increased the pressure on the home defence.
Villa remained dangerous on the counterattack, with Jackson and John McGinn causing problems whenever the hosts regained possession.
City also appealed for a penalty following a challenge involving Ian Maatsen and Ndiaye, but the referee allowed play to continue following a VAR review.
Despite City's growing control, Villa held firm to take a 1-0 advantage into the interval.
Maresca responded by introducing Phil Foden and Rico Lewis at half-time, with City emerging from the break determined to restore parity.
The visitors found their equaliser in the 52nd minute when Ndiaye beat his marker on the right before delivering an inviting cross towards the far post.
Haaland rose above Victor Lindelof and powered a downward header beyond goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to make it 1-1.
The goal shifted momentum towards City, who continued to create opportunities as Doku and Josko Gvardiol threatened the Villa defence.
However, the hosts regained their advantage in the 60th minute through another impressive attacking move.
Jackson collected possession near the halfway line before releasing substitute Ibrahim Mbaye down the right flank.
Mbaye advanced towards the penalty area and delivered a low pass back into Jackson's path. The striker struck first time, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma unable to keep the effort out despite getting his hands to the ball.
The goal restored Villa's lead and forced City to chase the game once again.
Gvardiol nearly equalised in the 68th minute, but Suzuki produced an excellent save after reacting quickly to a loose ball inside the penalty area.
City continued dominating possession during the closing stages, although Villa's organised defensive structure restricted clear scoring opportunities.
Haaland threatened again late on, but the hosts defended resolutely, with Maatsen making an important clearance before Suzuki comfortably saved another header during stoppage time.
Villa eventually held on to secure a 2-1 victory, bringing City's seven-match winning start to an end.
The result continued Villa's recovery after a difficult beginning to the campaign, taking Emery's side to 11 points from eight Premier League matches.
Jackson's clinical finishing proved decisive, while Suzuki's goalkeeping and Villa's defensive discipline helped the hosts withstand sustained City pressure.
For Manchester City, the defeat exposed defensive weaknesses and ended their perfect domestic record, leaving Maresca with plenty to assess following a disappointing week.
