Jackson double ends Manchester City’s perfect start as Aston Villa win at Villa Park
Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 at Villa Park in the Premier League on 24 October 2026, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice to end City’s perfect start to the season.
Manchester City had entered the game unbeaten across their opening fixtures, but Villa’s fast start and two goals from Jackson handed them defeat and brought to an end Enzo Maresca’s perfect start. The contest set England’s in-form forwards, Jackson and Erling Haaland, against each other and featured errors by Marc Guéhi and Gianluigi Donnarumma that contributed directly to Villa’s goals.
Villa began at high tempo while City looked sluggish early, even conceding a corner after being penalised for taking too long over a goal-kick. The breakthrough came in the sixth minute when Guéhi miscontrolled a Rúben Dias pass, allowing Jackson to rifle the ball home.
City enjoyed extended possession around the Villa area but struggled to convert it into clear chances; Iliman Ndiaye had a penalty claim waved away and both Ndiaye and Rayan Cherki were denied by goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Villa’s defensive shape limited space and fuelled quick transitions.
Guéhi was booked for pulling down Jackson on the edge of the area and was replaced at half-time. City levelled on 53 minutes after Ndiaye got past Ian Maatsen and delivered a cross that Haaland headed in from close range for his 13th goal of the season.
Villa regained the lead when play moved swiftly from defence to attack: Jackson released the ball to Ibrahim Mbaye and then collected the return cross to score, a shot that Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to stop as it slipped under him. City introduced Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and Ryan McAidoo to inject energy, but in pursuit of an equaliser they produced misdirected passes and misplaced crosses and picked up needless bookings.
Jackson was substituted with eight minutes remaining to a standing ovation, and a late Haaland chance was cleared off the line by Maatsen to preserve Villa’s victory. The result ended Manchester City’s previously unblemished run and halted Enzo Maresca’s perfect start.
