Man City 2-1 Aston Villa: Matheus Nunes hits injury-time winner in Champions League race showdown | OneFootball

A huge three points in the race to finish in the top five

Right place, right time: Matheus Nunes

REUTERS

Matheus Nunes scored deep into injury time as Manchester City beat Aston Villa in a huge clash in the race for the top five.

Earlier in the game, Marcus Rashford's penalty had cancelled out Bernardo Silva's goal but City are now firmly on course for a spot in Europe's elite club competition.

City climbed two places to third in the table on 61 points, but Pep Guardiola's men have played one more game than the three teams directly behind them. Villa, who have lost 15 successive games at the Etihad Stadium, remained seventh on 57 points in the crowded top of the table.

Silva put City ahead in the seventh minute when Omar Marmoush raced by Villa right back Matty Cash before cutting the ball back for an onrushing Silva. Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez got his gloves on the ball, but not enough to stop it from sailing into the back of the net.

Rashford, who had a shot clatter off the post 18 seconds into the game, pulled Villa level from the penalty spot in the 18th minute, after VAR determined Ruben Dias clipped Jacob Ramsey from behind with his right leg. Rashford calmly sent keeper Stefan Ortega the wrong way before slotting home.