Aston Villa win at Etihad as Guardiola bids a final farewell to Man City

Having waved goodbye to any slim chance of beating Arsenal to the Premier League title on Tuesday, Manchester City finished the week by bidding an emotional farewell to manager Pep Guardiola, who signed off his 10-year stint with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

You would be forgiven for expecting a slightly subdued mood at the Etihad given City had lost the title race and their once-in-a-generation leader all in the space of a few days. But Guardiola was not leaving without the send-off he deserved.

Manchester, a city the Spaniard loves and respects for its grafting roots, would not let him.

Final Premier League table | Top scorers | Watch FREE PL highlights

Premier League 26/27 dates - when are fixtures released?

Window opens June 15 - follow Transfer Centre LIVE!

World Cup match schedule and kick-off times

Got Sky? Watch LIVE sport on your phone📱

The Etihad was heartened by the presence of Guardiola on the touchline for one final time. He indulged in the festivities with plenty of smiles and waves, and even tears, albeit he chose not to celebrate Antoine Semenyo's opener in the 23rd minute, scored from a scrappy set-play.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

But the second half offered more by way of class and quality, predominantly from spoilers Villa. After looking uninterested before the interval, Unai Emery's Europa League winners sparked into life to score twice in 14 minutes and turn the game on its head.

Ollie Watkins netted both, the second a particularly impressive feat of skill and composure, rounding off a superb week for the World Cup-bound striker, who took his Premier League goal tally to 16.

Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app

Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Pep's parade might have been muted, with the 'oles' coming from the away end rather than the home crowd, but the locals got what they came to see, the scoreline almost immaterial.

The afternoon included touching tributes to club legends Bernardo Silva and John Stones on their final appearances for the club. In truth, such poignancy rather overtook the football. City failed to land a single shot on target in the second period, while Villa generated five and still missed two big chances to hammer home their advantage.

Phil Foden did have the ball in the back of the net only to be denied by VAR late on - the defeat marking only the 53rd time Guardiola has lost a game across an entire decade. A quite astonishing record for a truly remarkable manager.

Already thinking about the 2026/27 Premier League season?

There's a World Cup to fit in first - follow live blogs of every game on the Sky Sports App - but the key dates are locked in for next term, when Sky Sports will once again show at least 215 live Premier League games.

June 11: World Cup starts - day-by-day fixture listJune 14: Scotland's opener vs Haiti (2am)June 15: Summer transfer window opensJune 17: England's opener vs Croatia (9pm)June 19: Premier League fixtures released (10am)July 19: World Cup finalAugust 22-23: Premier League opening weekendAugust 27: Champions League league phase drawSeptember 1: Transfer Deadline Day (window closes at 11pm UK time)September 8-10: Champions League matchday 1May 30, 2027: Premier League final day