Second-half blitz helps Man City earn 3-0 win over Villa

MANCHESTER, October 26 

Three second-half goals ensured Manchester City climbed back into second behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League after a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium here today. City struggled to get going in the first half, with Villa having several chances to break the deadlock in the pouring Manchester rain.

However, the home side wasted no time after regrouping at the interval, as Raheem Sterling latched onto a Gabriel Jesus flick before firing City in front just 20 seconds into the second half with his 13th goal of the season. Jesus then almost grabbed a quick-fire second, but Tyrone Mings cleared off the line, before Kevin De Bruyne did find the net in the 65th minute after his cross eluded everyone and arrowed into the bottom corner. Five minutes later Ilkay Gundogan made sure of another three points for City after he reacted first to a blocked shot to scissor kick his strike into the net.

The result sees City climb back above Leicester City with 22 points. Liverpool, who host Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow, have 25. 

The win, however, was tarnished by a late red card for Fernandinho.

“If we play like we did in the first half for the rest of the season we will be in the relegation places,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “After the first half we corrected something, sometimes it happens but the second half was good.” 

Looking to avoid a second successive home league defeat, Guardiola made five changes from the City side that beat Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek. — Reuters

Serie A: Lecce halt Juventus’ winning run

Lecce: Juventus dropped points for just the second time this season in Serie A when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Lecce today. Paulo Dybala’s penalty put the champions in front early in the second half but Lecce captain Marco Mancosu quickly replied with a spot kick of his own. Juventus, who remain unbeaten in the league under Maurizio Sarri, came into the match on the back of a seven-match winning run in all competitions. But they struggled to find a breakthrough against the spirited hosts in the absence of star man Cristiano Ronaldo, who was rested for the trip. It was only the second time this season that the Turin club had failed to win a league match, after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Fiorentina in September. Juventus remain top on 23 points.

Bayern go back on top, Dortmund held

BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski scored for a league-record ninth consecutive Bundesliga match as Bayern Munich scraped past promoted Union Berlin 2-1 today to reclaim top spot in the league. Lewandowski, who has scored in every competitive game in the league, Champions League and German Cup this season for a total of 19 goals, netted his 13th league goal eight minutes after the restart for his new Bundesliga record. Benjamin Pavard had volleyed in from 17 metres to put the hosts ahead in the 13th minute. The Bavarians are top on 18 points, one ahead of Freiburg, who beat RB Leipzig 2-1. Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund played out a lacklustre goalless draw that saw both teams drop behind in the title race. 

Monaco’s Ben ends Nantes’ perfect home run    

Nantes: Prolific striker Wissam Ben Yedder grabbed his ninth goal of the season as Monaco handed Nantes their first home Ligue 1 defeat of the campaign on Friday. Ben Yedder struck in the first half and had two more efforts ruled out for offside as Leonardo Jardim’s rejuvenated Monaco clinched a fourth win in their last five league outings. They move into eighth place in the table while Nantes stay second, five points behind leaders Paris Saint Germain. Agencies