Mateus Nunes struck late to put Manchester City in the driving seat for Champions League qualification - and deal a major blow to Aston Villa's hopes.
The makeshift right-back arrived at the far post to slot in Jeremy Doku's inviting cross in the 94th minute of the contest.
Villa looked to have secured crucial point after Marcus Rashford's penalty had cancelled out Bernardo Silva's opener. But the Premier League champions - for a few more days at least - moved into third place, four points clear of sixth-place Villa.