“He’s incredibly loved” – Guardiola hails Man City matchwinner Nunes [video] | OneFootball

Manchester City 2-1 Aston Villa

Matheus Nunes was the hero with a last-gasp winner as Manchester City beat Aston Villa to strengthen their hopes of securing Champions League qualification in the Premier League.

Bernardo Silva also struck for City, scoring his first goal of 2025, as the outgoing champions moved back into 3rd place in the table, ahead of what is likely to be a close-fought battle for the top five positions.

The match pitted two of the favourites for the CL places against each other with just one point separating them, as City held a slender advantage over Villa. Things got off to an entertaining start when Bernardo converted from inside the box after good work from Omar Marmoush to put City ahead after 11 minutes, but the visitors drew level through Marcus Rashford’s penalty (conceded by Rúben Dias) just seven minutes later.

The score remained 1-1 for the rest of the normal time, but Nunes was in the right place at the right time to score at the back post after Jeremy Doku had opened up the Villa defence. Nunes was continuing in his unfavoured right-back position, where he has struggled at times to impress. However, a solid performance and an assist against Everton at the weekend has now been followed by a vital winner in a crunch outing.

“He’s a person who is incredibly loved,” Guardiola said when asked about Nunes after the game.

“When he talks in the media it’s always serious but in the locker room he’s the complete opposite, always laughing.

“He’s playing not in a natural position, like Nico. If you told me at the beginning of the season you are going to play at the end of the season to reach a final and to fight to qualify for the Champions League with Matheus and Nico at full-back I would say what are you talking about.

“He has done well, has incredible pace and is a different type of player to Rico.

“In the small spaces, [Rico] is so clean the way he plays.

“[Nunes’s] physicality, when he has to run, and hold good wingers he is able to do it and he’s playing better.

“Not just for the goal. Both have been so important.”

We’ll see how big that will be – Nunes

For his part, Nunes told reporters: “It was very important. Perfect timing! It couldn’t have come at a better time. Yeah it was amazing.

“I mean this was a very tough game and a very tough opponent. We came with the mentality that we needed to win this game and that’s what happened. “We will see at the end of the season how big it will be. Every three points now will be very important. We will go for every game for the three points.”