MANCHESTER: Manchester City retained the Premier League title in the most dramatic of fashion as they hauled themselves back from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 with three goals in the final 15 minutes on Sunday.
Ilkay Gundogan came off the bench to score twice with Rodri also on target as Pep Guardiola’s men held off Liverpool’s title charge to win the league by a point.
In scenes remiscent of the first of City’s now six league titles in 11 seasons when Sergio Aguero scored a 93rd minute winner to deny Manchester United the title on goal difference, the champions produced a remarkable comeback at the Etihad.
Goals from Matty Cash and former Liverpool favorite Philippe Coutinho looked set to gift the Reds the title.
Jurgen Klopp’s men did their job by also coming from a goal down to beat Wolves 3-1 at Anfield, but City’s rescue act ensured Liverpool’s bid for an unprecedented quadruple is over.
Gundogan started the comeback as he headed in Raheem Sterling’s cross at the back post.
Rodri then side-footed home from outside the box and Gundogan completed the fightback by tapping home Kevin De Bruyne’s cross at the back post.
Guardiola said before the game he wanted no repeat of Aguero’s legendary late strike a decade ago.
But the Calatan was the most relieved man in Manchester as he sealed the 10th league title of his coaching career in just 13 seasons.
Fans swarmed onto the pitch to celebrate at full-time and the crossbar at the goal where City scored all of their goals was snapped under the weight of supporters sitting on it.
Man City retain Premier League title with dramatic late comeback
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Man City retain Premier League title with dramatic late comeback
- Ilkay Gundogan came off the bench to score twice with Rodri also on target as Pep Guardiola’s men held off Liverpool’s title charge to win the league by a point
Racist chants target Vinícius Jr before Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey clash
- A group gathering near the stadium in the city of Albacete chanted abuse about the 25-year-old
- “Enough of this racism, it’s completely shameful,” Albacete posted on social media
ALBACETE, Spain: Racist chants against Real Madrid’s much-abused Brazilian forward Vinícius Jr were heard outside the Carlos Belmonte stadium on Wednesday ahead of a Copa del Rey tie against second division side Albacete.
A group gathering near the stadium in the city of Albacete chanted abuse about the 25-year-old, who has repeatedly suffered racism in Spain during games.
“Enough of this racism, it’s completely shameful. It’s not the image that represents the people of Albacete or the club,” Albacete posted on social media.
Vinícius was named in Álvaro Arbeloa’s starting line-up for the round of 16 cup game, his first match in charge as Real Madrid manager since the exit of Xabi Alonso.
In May 2025, five people received prison sentences in a landmark first ruling in Spain that condemned racist insults in a soccer stadium as a hate crime after Vinícius was abused during Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid in 2022.
There have been 18 legal complaints of racist behavior against Vinicius since 2022. Real Madrid had no immediate comment on Wednesday’s latest incident.
Vinicius has in the past expressed disappointment with what he describes as inadequate responses from governing bodies.
