Matheus Nunes fired a stoppage-time winner as Manchester City beat top-five rivals Aston Villa 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to climb up to third in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s side leap-frogged Newcastle and Nottingham Forest and sit four points above Villa, who remain seventh, in the race for a Champions League place.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed Bukayo Saka is expected to recover from an ankle injury sustained at the weekend in time for Wednesday’s home league game against Crystal Palace.
Last-gasp Nunes sinks Villa
Massive. pic.twitter.com/8HynDx72dF
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 22, 2025
Nunes sealed City’s potentially crucial win as the quest for Champions League qualification intensifies.
Marcus Rashford looked to have secured Villa a point after the forward, on loan from Manchester United, scored from the spot shortly after Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez allowed a Bernardo Silva strike to creep home early in the first half.
City dominated possession and the shot count, with Nunes converting substitute Jeremy Doku’s low cross to secure victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Saka boost for Gunners
Bukayo Saka has handed Mikel Arteta an injury boost after the Arsenal manager declared he is fit to face Palace.
Saka was withdrawn in the second half of Arsenal’s 4-0 win at Ipswich on Sunday following a late tackle by Leif Davis, who was sent off. The Gunners forward wore an ice pack on his ankle and was seen limping towards the tunnel at the final whistle.
But on the eve of the clash with Palace, and with Arsenal’s first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain just a week away, Arteta said: “We have to wait and see how he reacts after the (training) session, but it’s nothing too serious. If we want to he would have a good chance to play tomorrow.”
Arsenal, 13 points behind Liverpool with just five matches to play, must avoid defeat to ensure the Reds do not wrap up the title without kicking a ball.
Blues eye WSL title
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor has called for full focus as her side look to take another step closer to clinching the Women’s Super League title on Wednesday against bottom club Palace.
The Blues can move six points clear at the top with victory at Kingsmeadow ahead of Sunday’s second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, in which they trail 4-1.
“I have said a lot of times this season that I have depth in my squad, so it will be important to show a reaction tomorrow (from the Barcelona game) with a competitive team, but also to be ready as much as we can be ready for Sunday,” Bompastor told a press conference.
“We want to achieve a lot this season so there are three more competitions to play in and hopefully we will be playing until the last moment in the season. Everyone is ready for that.”
What’s on today?
Arsenal will bid to consolidate second place in the Premier League against Palace and delay Liverpool’s coronation.
Chelsea’s WSL clash with Palace could take them a step closer to the title and a possible domestic treble.
In Spain, Real Madrid face Getafe looking to close the gap at the top back to four points after Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Mallorca.
