Manchester City have been crowned Carabao Cup winners for a second successive year after goals from Sergio Aguero and Rodri helped them to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Wembley.
Pep Guardiola sprung a surprise with his team selection after opting to leave out Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi, with the likes of Claudio Bravo and John Stones handed rare starts.
With Man City looking a tad disjointed, it was Villa who got off to a flying start with Anwar El Ghazi heading just over the bar and City camped on the edge of their own box.
But the champions soon got their passing flowing through the middle with Phil Foden looking especially dangerous. Indeed, with just 20 minutes gone, City took the lead - and in some style.
Rodri spread the play out wide to Foden and the 19-year-old's cutback found Aguero, who scuffed his shot but it bounced past Orjan Nyland to put City ahead.
It didn't take long for the second to arrive with City dominating possession and passing around confidently. But the goal actually came from a corner that should have never been given. Ilkay Gundogan's delivery found Rodri and he powered his header past Nyland.
That looked to have killed off Villa's challenge until an error from John Stones allowed El Ghazi to cross for Mbwana Samatta and his bullet header found the corner to give Villa a lifeline.
Chances were fewer to come by in the second half as neither side want to leave themselves exposed at the back and Guardiola sent on De Bruyne to help keep the narrow lead.
Villa almost snatched a late equaliser in the final minutes of normal time through Bjorn Engels but Bravo somehow tipped onto the post. The Villains pushed hard in stoppage time but City held on to claim a second Carabao Cup title in as many seasons.
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