Manchester City 3-2 Aston Villa
By Adam Millington
at the City of Manchester Stadium

Aah, football. There’s a reason it’s loved so dearly: the moments of unpredictability, the moments of ecstasy, the moments of heartbreak. It has the propensity to produce moments which wouldn’t seem out of place in a work of fiction, the ability to write ninety minutes into the history books for an eternity.

93:20 is known by all in these parts, those four numbers invoking an unbridled sense of emotion for all supporters. Simply utter them and any fan will be able to recall within an instant where they were, who they were with and how it made them feel. Their eyes glaze over, the majesty of the moment having never faded.

Now there’s another of these incredible situations which has been written into the history books. Some fans had headed for the concourses, the seemingly futile nature of the rest of the match proving too much for them to deal with. They still remained atop of the table, but facing a two-goal deficit and with Liverpool looking increasingly like winning against Wolves, the title seemed to be headed to to Anfield.

Yet there’s something magical about this ground which permits it the ability to elicit the greatest of footballing episodes. The task seemed insurmountable on paper, but it wasn’t going to be; no task is for this side.

And so, despite their haphazard form in front of goal, they managed to form a path to victory. Ilkay Gundogan nodded past Robin Olsen and the Etihad went wild. The sea os Sky blue shirts erupted and the fumes from smoke bombs began to eminate from the jubilant south stand. The comeback was on.

The fans were still recovering from the first, still finding their way back onto their feet after the celebrations. Every touch of the ball was met with a deafening roar from the home support: they knew they still had work to do, but now more than ever it seemed possible. 

Two minutes is all it took; two minutes to turn an afternoon of heartbreak into an afternoon of jubilation. Rodri netted and for once the Blues were ahead, leading on points rather than goal difference for the first time. After a game which had been fraught with City mishaps, they were finally back into it.

Every time the ball found the feet of a City player it felt like it had a gilded edge, like there was only one possible outcome. The fans here could sense what was about to happen – they’d been there ten years prior but never thought it could possibly happen again.

Then it did. Kevin de Bruyne whipped in a cross, Gundogan converted. “This is the best moment of my life” screamed one jubilant supporter as he lept towards the press box. The unthinkable had been achieved.

Liverpool began to battle back at Anfield but the title was out of their hands. “Who cares what the scousers are doing, we’re champions,” shouted the fan. That was the feeling of many, most fans being wholly unfazed as news of the goals on Merseyside began to filter through. 

A nervy end to the game ensured, but the slick winning machine masterminded by Pep Guardiola did what was required.

The final whistle was blown and thousands began to steam onto the pitch. The field of play was filled with the triumphant home support, as has become a worrying trend in recent weeks. Steven Gerrard, the Aston Villa head coach, said his goalkeeper Olsen was attacked in the pitch invasion.

These are moments of sheer ecstasy, but they seem to be becoming overshadowed by the violence of a few. Police carrying riot-style helmets formed a protective ring around the dugout, but when a number so high take to the field there is little chance of stopping them.

Football has a conundrum to face: what to do to help protect the players. It’s a shame that moments like these have regularly become marred by abhorrent violence of a select few, yet it’s the game’s current predicament. What it should do is the next question which needs answering.