Premier League 2025-26: Man United drops Villa to boost bid in top four

Manchester United strengthened its bid to qualify for the Champions League on Sunday with a crucial 3-1 win against top-four rivals Aston Villa.

Michael Carrick’s side took the lead through Casemiro’s second-half opener at Old Trafford before Ross Barkley drew Villa level.

United finished strongly, with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko scoring in the closing stages to seal Carrick’s seventh win in nine games since taking over as interim boss dse45r.

United are third in the Premier League and three points ahead of fourth-placed Villa in the race to reach the Champions League via a top-four finish.

United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe this week praised Carrick’s «excellent» work but stopped short of committing the former Old Trafford star long-term.

But Carrick is making a strong case to earn the job on a permanent basis after stabilizing United following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

United’s latest victory came after an 11-day break since the first defeat of his reign at Newcastle, and Carrick celebrated with a happy dance on the sidelines after Sesko secured the points.

Sputtering Villa have lost their last three league games and have recorded just one win in seven top-flight games, leaving them three points clear of fifth-place Chelsea with eight games remaining in the battle for the European places.

After a lethargic first half, United finally pried open the Villa defense in the 53rd minute.

Bryan Mbeumo’s stinging strike was pushed away by Emiliano Martinez for a corner that set up the opener.

Bruno Fernandes curled a corner at the near post and Casemiro made a perfectly timed run to fire a header past Martinez for his league goal this season.

AS IT HAPPENED: MUN VS AVL HIGHLIGHTS

With Casemiro likely to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, United fans serenaded the Brazilian midfielder with chants of «one more year».

United lost focus and relinquished the lead in the 64th minute.

In his first Premier League start for 14 months, Barkley struck a brilliant strike past Senne Lammens from 12 yards after United failed to clear the danger.

But Cunha scored in the 71st minute to ensure Carrick’s men did not have to pay for their stumble.

The Brazilian forward burst onto Fernandes’ sublime pass in the Villa area and fired a fine finish into the far corner.

It was Fernandes’ 16th assist in the Premier League this season, taking the United captain past David Beckham’s previous club record of 15 in 1999-2000.

He has provided 100 assists for United in all competitions since signing for Sporting Lisbon in 2020.

Sesko came off the bench to prove a point to Carrick after being dropped, with the Slovenian striker firing home a deflected effort in the 81st minute.

Published on March 15, 2026