Rico Lewis’ performance against Villarreal was impressive, making the most of a rare opportunity to play in his preferred midfield position.
The 20-year-old academy graduate, who has long been considered one of City’s brightest prospects, was instrumental in the team’s 2-0 Champions League win at El Madrigal, setting up Erling Haaland’s opening goal with a composed assist and showcasing his tactical maturity.
Lewis, who has been on the periphery of Pep Guardiola’s squad since the opening weekend of the season, was one of the standout performers in Spain.
Prior to Tuesday’s match, his only start since August came in the Carabao Cup victory over Huddersfield, but he seized the opportunity to impress his manager against Villarreal.
The academy graduate has often been deployed as a right-back under Guardiola, but he has never hidden his desire to play centrally—a position where he feels his impact is greatest. After his commanding display in midfield, Lewis made it clear that it’s where he feels most at home.
“I’m always happy when I play there and the manager knows that,” Lewis said after the match according to MEN. “I’m really happy. I think it’s where I affect the game the most and when I’m playing when I’m happy there’s no better feeling.”
His performance against the Spanish side was both disciplined and dynamic. Lewis demonstrated his composure on the ball, his sharp positional awareness, and the ability to link play between defence and attack.
The highlight of his night came in the first half when he broke forward from midfield and delivered a precise low cross for Haaland to tuck away, giving City the lead.
That assist not only capped off an impressive outing for the young midfielder but also contributed to Haaland’s astonishing scoring run. The Norwegian forward has now found the net in 12 consecutive matches for club and country, amassing 24 goals in just 14 appearances this season.
Lewis was full of praise for the striker, emphasising how Haaland’s presence transforms City’s attacking play. “It’s amazing,” he said. “To play with him in the team it helps more than you think, he draws so many defenders which frees up other players and then when those people are free that frees himself up, so it’s impossible to defend.
“Credit to him, he’s such a hard worker, he never stops wanting to score and you can see that.”
Rico Lewis’ performance against Villarreal could be linked to his understanding of how to play around Haaland and exploit the space created by the Norwegian’s movement was evident throughout the game.
It’s a quality Guardiola has often demanded from his midfielders—intelligence, timing, and technical excellence—and the 20-year-old showed all three in abundance.
Confidence returns to Man City camp
The win over Villarreal extended City’s unbeaten streak to nine matches, a run that has helped the team rediscover its rhythm after a challenging start to the campaign. The champions appear to have regained their intensity and confidence, and Lewis believes that unity and self-belief have been key to their recent resurgence.
“We’ve got our confidence back, that’s the main thing,” Lewis explained. “When you’re playing with confidence there’s nothing to stop you but yourself. Everyone trusts each other, we all want the ball.”
That sense of togetherness was clear in Spain. City dominated possession, moved the ball fluidly, and looked comfortable defensively—a sign that their early-season inconsistency might be behind them.
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Guardiola’s decision to rotate his squad and hand opportunities to players like Lewis has paid dividends, with the youngster’s versatility and energy adding balance to the team.
Also, Rico Lewis’ performance against Villarreal highlights Guardiola’s long-standing faith in developing homegrown talent. Since breaking into the first team during the 2022–23 season, the Manchester-born midfielder has become a trusted squad member, known for his composure beyond his years.
His ability to adapt between full-back and midfield positions gives City tactical flexibility, something Guardiola values highly.
