Haaland is at the moment operating away with the Premier League’s Golden Boot with 11 targets and such has been Metropolis’s reliance on him that the facet’s subsequent highest prime scorer doesn’t even play for them.
Unfortunate Frenchman Maxime Esteve’s two targets at Etihad Stadium for Burnley places him subsequent on the checklist, with Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Matheus Nunes and Rayan Cherki contributing one apiece.
Boss Guardiola had requested for his wingers and midfielders to step however they failed to take action and it proved pricey with, what might be, a dangerous defeat come Might.
Haaland did have alternatives towards Villa however did not take them, lacking a gilt-edged likelihood instantly after his facet went behind, operating by way of and having a low shot smothered by Emiliano Martinez.
The Argentine goalkeeper plucked out one other Haaland header from the air within the second half and when he was crushed simply earlier than the tip, the offside flag got here to his rescue.
Haaland collided closely with the put up within the aftermath, slumping down the tunnel together with his head bowed at full-time and Guardiola mentioned he had not spoken to his participant, however “hopefully he’s advantageous”.
With 15 targets scored to this point and netting 34 in an injury-hit marketing campaign final time period, Metropolis can’t start to bear the considered being with out their primary man at any level this season.
Villa boss Emery mentioned: “We tried tactically and in particular person efficiency to get duels with him, intelligently, with the ability we confirmed.
“Then we had some assist from defensive cowl and in addition the goalkeeper. We would have liked every little thing to cease him.”
Metropolis’s harm disaster meant Guardiola dipped into the switch market in January by signing 4 gamers, and he introduced in one other six through the summer season, however solely keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Reijnders began at Villa.
Attackers Omar Marmoush and Cherki had been launched from the substitutes’ bench within the second half after recovering from accidents and the 2 now have to step as much as ease the burden on Haaland’s shoulders.
Metropolis’s subsequent league sport comes at dwelling to high-flying Bournemouth subsequent Sunday and Guardiola has a call to make whether or not he throws each of them in for that vital encounter.
