Manchester City's perfect start to the Premier League season came to an end on Saturday, October 24, 2026, as Aston Villa won 2-1 at Villa Park in Matchweek 8. Nicolas Jackson scored both goals for the home side.
Erling Haaland leveled the score for the visitors early in the second half, but Jackson's response minutes later restored Villa's lead for good, leaving Enzo Maresca with his first defeat in charge of City and ending the club's bid for an eighth straight league win to open the campaign.
Nicolas Jackson becomes Villa's matchwinner
Jackson needed just six minutes to put the hosts in front, pouncing early to give Unai Emery's side the perfect start they were chasing after a string of recent good form.
Two City errors, two Villa goals
Nicolas Jackson punished two sloppy errors from Manchester City as their perfect start to the Premier League season was halted by a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa. Marc Guehi was at fault for the opener, and the centre-back was hooked at half-time by Maresca, who sent on Rico Lewis in his place.
A costly slip from Donnarumma
Jackson's second goal, in the 60th minute, came after another City mistake. Jackson got his second and the winner with a first-time finish that squirmed under goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The strike restored Villa's lead just eight minutes after City had drawn level.
The brace also boosted Jackson's personal tally; Jackson is up to seven goals for the season in all competitions.
Haaland keeps scoring, but City still fall
The second half initially promised a comeback when Haaland clinically headed home an Iliman Ndiaye cross to level the scores in the 52nd minute. It was another milestone for the Norwegian, whose header stood as his league-best ninth goal of the season.
City defender Ruben Dias captured the mood in the away dressing room. “Frustrating for us, obviously everybody fought a lot.” He added that the team created a lot of chances and had a lot of momentum, but Villa ended up scoring in transitions and were very efficient. On the timing of Villa's second goal, Dias said it was “a tougher one because it was very close to our equalizer and a little bit killed the momentum we had.”
What this result means for both clubs
The defeat halts City's perfect run and comes as a reminder that Maresca's side, despite their dominant start, remain vulnerable to well-organized opponents. For Villa, the win extended an impressive stretch; it also extended Villa's outstanding recent run to six wins from seven games in all competitions.
Villa's rise under Emery
Saturday's result follows an uneven start to the season for Villa, who are back in the top-five discussion with three wins and a draw since starting 0W-1D-3L. The club has also carried momentum from European competition; heading into the weekend, Aston Villa beat Viking 3-1, their third successive win in all competitions, before facing Manchester City, a run that included results in the Champions League.
A busy Saturday across the league
City's setback was one of several storylines on Matchweek 8's Saturday, with other Premier League fixtures including Arsenal hosting Everton and Manchester United preparing to face Bournemouth later in the day. The result at Villa Park also adds context to City's broader run of difficult away trips this season, including the one previewed by SportVoz ahead of the meeting with Liverpool at Anfield.
With the perfect record gone, attention now turns to how Maresca's squad responds in its next outings, while Emery's Villa will look to carry Saturday's result into their next test as they continue chasing a return to the top end of the table.