A stern test awaits a Manchester City side that is beginning to grow

Manchester City are now unbeaten in nine games in all competitions after their 2-nil win over Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceràmica on Tuesday night. For 70 minutes, Pep Guardiola’s side controlled the match against Villarreal. They did suffer in the last 20 minutes as the hosts tried to find a way into the game.

Manchester City’s win in Spain perfectly encapsulates their past nine games. They have spells of dominance and periods in matches where they have to defend resolutely and ride their luck. Pep Guardiola’s side remains a work in progress, but the signs are there that they are becoming an entity that resembles a Pep Guardiola side in full flight. This weekend, they take on Aston Villa at Villa Park in a match that will test how far City has come this season.

Pep Guardiola can see his team growing with every game.

For 70 minutes against Villarreal, Manchester City controlled the match in typical City fashion. They dominated possession, created chances, and nullified the home side’s attacking threat. Whether or not City took their foot off the gas, or Villarreal upped their game in the final 20 minutes, is up for debate. But the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the game in the closing stages. They hit the post and saw several good chances spurned. Manchester City rode their luck and picked up a 2-nil win. The signs were there that City are growing as a team. It was also evident in Manchester City’s performance what areas of their game need to improve.

Pep Guardiola was happy that his team picked up all three points in their UEFA Champions League league phase fixture against Villarreal. He acknowledged that Villarreal is a quality side, especially at home. The City manager can also see signs that his team is beginning to grow. He explained after his team’s win at the Estadio de la Ceràmica: “If you analyse the first half and some moments in the second, we created some good chances. We made a good performance. I know the Spanish people know that Villarreal is a top, top team.”

“I know how difficult it is to come here, and I have the feeling things are coming back to what we were in the past.”

Aston Villa will pose a stern test for Manchester City at Villa Park.

Manchester City will head to Villa Park on Sunday to take on Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s side made a slow start to the 25/26 season. Following their 2-1 win over Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend, they have won their past five matches at the time of writing. They are beginning to look like the Villa side that has troubled Pep Guardiola’s side at Villa Park previously. Unai Emery’s side has beaten City in their past two matches at Villa Park.

The Aston Villa lineup is packed with players with quality and pace. Morgan Rodgers, Ollie Watkins and Donyell Malen immediately come to mind. In midfield, Youri Tielemans, Andre Onana, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara form a quality midfield brigade. Unai Emery is blessed with a quality squad with more quality options throughout their ranks than the players listed above. They have troubled City before and figure to do so again on Sunday.