The visitors were greeted with more boos from an away ground ahead of kick-off after they were found guilty of serious breaches of the competition’s financial regulations last month.

City conceded a corner after Gianluigi Donnarumma took too long to take his goal-kick which put City on the back foot, and Villa’s quick start was rewarded with the opener in the sixth minute.

Guehi was unable to control the ball and he instead spilled it into the path of John McGinn, who played it into Jackson and he expertly finished into the top of the net.

The early goal did not dent City’s confidence, and they were denied an equaliser when Suzuki sprang right to push Ndiaye’s curling effort away.

The Japan goalkeeper was getting busier by the minute, he put out an outstretched arm to thwart Rayan Cherki following some neat footwork by Jeremy Doku before stopping Abdukodir Khusanov from range.

Ndiaye had already threatened Suzuki once by cutting inside and letting one rip, and he did it again, only to see the effort slam off the outside of the post.

Haaland had a quiet first half but made his contribution seven minutes after the break to get City level when he nodded Ndiaye’s cross past Suzuki.

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City’s onslaught continued and Villa’s woodwork was rattled again, this time Suzuki tipped Josko Gvardiol’s ferocious strike off the bar.

And that save proved decisive as Villa retook the lead just as it looked like City were turning up the heat on the hour mark.

Villa turned defence into attack with precision. Victor Lindelof’s ball set them on the front foot and it ended up with substitute Ibrahim Mbaye, and his first major contribution was to tee up Jackson who saw his strike squeeze past Donnarumma.

Erling Haaland rises above Pau Torres for a header on goal. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

City threw everything at getting an equaliser, and Haaland thought he nodded City level for a second time but his goalbound header was blocked by Ian Maatsen as Villa took the points.