Aston Villa couldn’t resist poking fun at Erling Haaland after their hard-fought 1–0 win over Manchester City at Villa Park on Sunday, thanks to Matty Cash’s decisive goal.
The Midlands club took to social media shortly after full-time, posting a cheeky message that appeared to playfully reference Haaland’s diet, which he recently discussed online.
Cash the hero as Villa continue their home dominance
Matty Cash was the hero for Unai Emery’s side, netting the only goal of the match to seal a memorable win over the reigning champions.
The goal ensured Villa extended their superb home form against City, with the club now boasting three consecutive league wins at Villa Park over Pep Guardiola’s men.
Cash’s strike wasn’t just crucial in terms of the result; it also carried personal significance. Since joining Aston Villa in 2020, the Polish international has scored twice against City, with his first coming in a 3–2 defeat at the Etihad Stadium three years ago.
Reflecting on his latest goal, the defender told the BBC: “It was a nice strike. I’ve had a few like them, I’ve scored four this season for club and country. On the edge of the box I like shooting, it’s what I like to do in training, hit them nice and sweet.”
Cash’s well-taken goal was a fitting reward for Villa’s disciplined display against one of the Premier League’s most formidable sides.
City, despite their usual dominance in possession, found it difficult to break down a resolute Villa defence. Haaland, in particular, struggled to find space and saw his record-breaking scoring run come to an abrupt halt.
Before Sunday’s match, the Norwegian striker had been in extraordinary form, scoring in 12 consecutive games for club and country.
His last failure to find the back of the net had come in August, during City’s home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. But against Villa, he was kept quiet — unable to add to his impressive tally of 11 Premier League goals this season, and 15 in all competitions.
Villa’s playful dig at Haaland’s “raw milk and tomahawk steak” diet
If Aston Villa’s win on the pitch frustrated Manchester City, their post-match activity on social media certainly added a light-hearted twist.
According to talkSPORT, the club’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a teasing message shortly after the game, writing: “Good job Matty Cash had his raw milk and tomahawk steak for breakfast this morning,” followed by a smiling tongue-out emoji.
The post was widely interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek nod to Haaland’s diet, which the striker had revealed to fans just days earlier.
In the launch video for his YouTube channel, the Manchester City forward gave supporters a glimpse into his daily life, including his unique eating habits.
The 25-year-old was seen preparing a tomahawk steak on the barbecue and pouring himself a glass of raw milk — foods he described as essential to his fitness routine.
Explaining his preference for raw milk, Haaland said: “I think it’s good for us, it’s good for our stomach, it’s good for our skin, it’s good for our bones and muscles, that’s why I drink it.”
The video quickly went viral, with fans intrigued — and amused — by the striker’s health regime.
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Villa’s social media team clearly seized the opportunity to turn Haaland’s own words into some friendly banter, drawing praise from fans across the football community.
Despite Haaland’s dietary discipline and relentless fitness routine, even he couldn’t break through Villa’s wall of determination on the night. The Norwegian cut a frustrated figure as City’s usual rhythm faltered, and Guardiola’s men failed to find their customary fluidity in the final third.
The striker, however, remains the Premier League’s top scorer, and few would bet against him returning to the scoresheet soon. But for now, the last laugh belonged to Aston Villa — both for their performance and their perfectly timed joke that had the football world smiling.
