Aston Villa 2–1 Manchester United (21 December 2025)
Aston Villa 2–1 Manchester United (21 December 2025) – Match Analysis, Goals, Assists and Player Ratings
The victory once again underlined Villa’s excellent form this season, with young star Morgan Rogers emerging as the decisive figure by scoring both goals.
🏆 Match Result
Aston Villa 2–1 Manchester United
Date: 21.12.2025
Stadium: Villa Park, Birmingham
League position after the match:
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Aston Villa – 3rd
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Manchester United – 7th
⚽ Goals & Assists
🔥 Aston Villa
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1–0 (45’) Morgan Rogers – A well-worked move down the left ended with Rogers calmly converting John McGinn’s pass.
Assist: John McGinn -
2–1 (57’) Morgan Rogers – Rogers struck again with a composed finish, punishing United’s defensive lapse.
Assist: Ollie Watkins
⚽ Manchester United
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1–1 (45+3’) Matheus Cunha – United responded just before half-time as Cunha finished after a well-timed run behind the defence.
Assist: Patrick Dorgu
📊 Match Summary
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Villa struggled to break through early on but were rewarded when Rogers opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.
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United replied almost immediately, with Cunha levelling the score during stoppage time.
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In the second half, Rogers struck again, restoring Villa’s lead.
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Despite late pressure from United, Villa remained disciplined and saw out the game to secure all three points.
📋 Player Ratings
⭐ Aston Villa
| Player | Rating | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Rogers | 9/10 | Man of the Match – two goals and a commanding performance |
| John McGinn | 8/10 | Assisted the opener and controlled midfield areas |
| Ollie Watkins | 7.5/10 | Provided a crucial assist and remained a constant threat |
| Emiliano Martínez | 7/10 | Made key saves to deny United momentum |
⭐ Manchester United
| Player | Rating | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Matheus Cunha | 7.5/10 | Scored United’s only goal and led the attacking effort |
| Patrick Dorgu | 6.5/10 | Provided an assist but struggled defensively |
| Bruno Fernandes | 6/10 | Forced off through injury in the first half, a major setback |
| Team Overall | 6.5/10 | Created chances but lacked efficiency in front of goal |
📌 Tactical Analysis
🧠 Aston Villa
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Villa maintained a compact midfield structure, denying United space between the lines.
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Morgan Rogers’ individual quality proved decisive against United’s defensive weaknesses.
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This victory extended Villa’s winning run across all competitions to ten matches.
🔴 Manchester United
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United dominated possession but found it difficult to penetrate Villa’s organised defensive block.
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Bruno Fernandes’ injury disrupted their attacking rhythm.
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Despite sustained pressure, United were unable to find an equaliser.
📌 Match Statistics (Summary)
| Statistic | Aston Villa | Manchester United |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 42.8% | 57.2% |
| Shots | 12 | 15 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 6 |
| Corners | 5 | 5 |
| Discipline | Fewer bookings | More bookings |
🏁 Final Verdict
Aston Villa combined tactical discipline with individual brilliance to defeat Manchester United and maintain their strong position in the Premier League title and European qualification race.
Manchester United, meanwhile, were left to reflect on missed opportunities and injury setbacks as they continue to search for consistency.
