While the Premier League investigates the accounts of Manchester City, accused of financial irregularities, Pep Guardiola and his players continue to do their thing. The cityzens beat Aston Villa with solvency at the Etihad Stadium (3-1) and narrow the siege on the leader, Arsenal, who enjoys a three-point advantage and has one game less before the duel between the two teams this coming Wednesday.

The Manchester team, which began the match in third position due to the previous victory of their neighbors in Leeds (0-2), began to do their homework very soon, in the 4th minute. At the exit of a corner, Rodri undid Kamara’s brand and with a header at the near post he beat ‘Dibu’ Martínez. It was the beginning of a skyblue monologue, an absolute dominance that Unai Emery’s men never knew how to counteract.

The pressure without the ball and infinite possession were the preamble to the carousel of occasions that City collected. Grealish and Mahrez overflowed on the wings but Gündogan was the next to test Dibu’s reflexes, which disrupted the one-on-one. Aston Villa did not leave their field and when Haaland tried, he threatened to punish his recklessness. The Norwegian collided with the Argentine goalkeeper and Gündogan scored at will, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul by the striker.

They repeated the strategy of the first goal in a corner and again Rodri finished off, although this time with the crosshairs off. The ball remained dead and Haaland, in an incomprehensible way judging by his scoring nose, failed to finish off between the three sticks. The Scandinavian made up for himself minutes later with a long ball that Chambers failed to forcefully clear. The striker took advantage of the stage to create the second goal with a great cross to the far post, low and tense, which only had to push Gündogan into the net.

The verdict came before the end of the first part with a rigorous penalty from Ramsey on Grealish, who went to the ground after noticing a slight contact from behind. Mahrez, in stoppage time, beat Martínez, and Haaland, substituted at half-time, went without scoring.

After the restart, City continued with the infinite rondo at the controls of De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. The game was so controlled that they relaxed and the visitors took the opportunity to wake up. The Portuguese midfielder lost the ball in a compromised area and Watkins closed the gap with the ‘villains’ first shot on goal.

Emery’s men believed in the miracle and their faith increased with the entry of Coutinho, who with a shot from the left profile of the attack, the Brazilian’s trademark, caused Ederson to show off. The goal of hope seemed close, but also the fourth for the locals, especially in a counter that Mahrez wasted when the goal was already beginning to sing in the stands. Jhon Jader Durán spent Villa’s last round with a powerful shot off the crossbar.

Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias (Akanji, m.46), Laporte; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva; Mahrez (Aké, m.85), Grealish (Foden, m.69) and Haaland (Álvarez, m.46).

Aston Villa: Martinez; Digne (Moreno, m.61), Chambers, Konsa, Young (Coutinho, m.76); Buendía (McGinn, m.61), Luiz, Kamara, Ramsey (Cash, m.76); Watkins and Bailey (Durán, m.61).

Goals: 1-0. Rodri, m.4, 2-0. Gundogan, m.39, 3-0. Mahrez, m.45 1 and 1-3. Watkins, m.61.

Referee: Robert Jones admonished Dias (m.41) for City and Digne (m.37) for Aston Villa.

Incidents: Match corresponding to day 23 of the Premier League played at the Etihad Stadium (Manchester).