Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City
Manchester City put down a huge marker in London on Saturday taking three points from Chelsea in a thoroughly dominant display, to climb joint top of the Premier League on 13 points.
After dominating the first half City took the lead early in the second when Gabriel Jesus’ deflected shot breached the Blues’ defence and, in reality a single goal defeat flattered the hosts. Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel masterminded three wins in six weeks over Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues at the end of last season and this was revenge indeed for the City boss.
What a way to open up the top flight entertainment this weekend, with Premier League: Chelsea vs Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, and Manchester United hosting Aston Villa in the lunchtime kick-offs where the Villains pulled off a shock win, meaning the Red Devils, City, Chelsea and Liverpool all sit on 13 points with the Merseysiders still to play.
Highlights of the game
The pre-match Chelsea vs Manchester City news announced four changes for each side from last week’s Premier League games when the Blues beat Spurs 3-0 and the Manchester side drew disappointingly at home to Southampton. Thomas Tuchel drafted in N’Golo Kante, Reece James and Timo Werner, while fit again keeper Edouard Mendy also made a start, and he was to have a busy game. The visitors welcomed returns for Aymeric Laporte and Rodri, while two of Pep Guardiola’s superstars Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden joined Jack Grealish in a star-studded creative line up, while Raheem Sterling dropped to the bench.
Both teams came into the game having conceded just one goal in their opening five matches so we expected a cagey start and so it was, but as the first half began to take shape Manchester City took the initiative, Guardiola’s returning stars Foden controlling the pace of the game and de Bruyne putting dangerous balls into the penalty area. And City came close to scoring when Grealish found Rodri in space and he let fly form 25 yards, but Anton Rudiger got his head to the ball and it ricocheted over. As the half wore on City began to become frustrated by Chelsea’s compact defending and de Bruyne fired one well over the bar.
The Sky Blues began the second half on the front foot too, Grealish making a smart run and turn inside to give himself the space and time to curl a shot which went wide of Mendy’s post. But when the visitors finally got the goal they deserved, on 52 minutes, they had a huge slice of luck. Joao Cancelo had a shot which hit Jesus and the Brazilian did well to hold onto the ball, turn sharply and shoot, beating Mendy thanks to a deflection of Jorginho.
Mendy made a brilliant fingertip save to deny Grealish after a brilliant piece of footwork and shot from the £100m man, and then Thiago Silva made a fantastic goal-line clearance to clear a shot from Jesus. It just seemed a matter of time until City would double their lead as Grealish continued to torment the Blues’ defence.
Finally the hosts came out on attack and Mateo Kovacic combined well with Romelu Lukaku before shooting low and hard, only to see City defender Ruben Dias make a sliding block. And then, as the game became stretched, Grealish fed Cancelo and he shot straight at Mendy from a tight angle. And City were so close to grabbing a second when de Bruyne’s brilliant free-kick was met by Laporte who slid in but fired his shot just wide.
With ten minutes remaining Werner crossed for Havertz but Dias was there again to clear the danger, and then Grealish had a golden chance to get his goal when Foden threaded a ball through, but instead of lifting it over Mendy he hit his shot straight at the Chelsea stopper.
Key Statistics
The pre-match Chelsea vs Manchester City betting odds pitched the hosts marginal favourites at a price of 2.56 with Manchester City at 2.64, and this writer backed a draw. By half time, with 67 per cent possession and six shots to one, the Sky Blues arguably should have been ahead, but with only one shot on target they had struggled to penetrate the Blues’ defence.
The second half followed the same pattern and the Sky Blues finished with 11 shots to two and three to nil on target. It was a Guardiola master class to beat his nemesis and end Chelsea’s six match unbeaten run, while his own side are now six unbeaten.
And Manchester City have still never lost a game when Jesus has scored.
What’s next?
Here at SBOTOP we priced the Sky Blues at odds of 2.95 to retain their title, and Chelsea at 3.00 before this game, but this is a result which will see some movement in the odds.
Next week the Blues entertain Southampton and should get back to winning ways, while Manchester City have another blockbuster clash, away to Liverpool.
Before all that there is Champions League action when Chelsea visit Turin to take on Juventus. The Old Lady has made a sluggish start to her Serie A campaign and could be there for the taking. And the Sky Blues have yet another huge match when they visit France to take on Paris Saint-Germain.
Both English clubs made winning starts, City hammering Red Bull Leipzig 6-3 while Chelsea edged a 1-0 match against Zenit St Petersburg but their next opponents are a step up.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
