The back-pass rule, outlined in Law 12, Section 2 of the Laws of the Game, as cited by GOAL, prohibits a goalkeeper from handling the ball when it is deliberately passed to them by a teammate. In the case of Gvardiol passing back to Ortega under pressure from a swarm of Villa attackers, many would assume this rule applies. See the sequence below:

For the first time under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City are winless in five consecutive Premier League away games, last failing to win more consecutive such matches in December 2015 (six) under Manuel

Jack Grealish sends three-finger gesture to goading Aston Villa fans after miserable return. The Independent. Villa Park return is painful reminder that Jack Grealis