Covid-hit Man City still too good for Chelsea
Issued on:
03/01/2021 - 19:32 3 min
London (AFP)
Manchester City brushed off a series of coronavirus-related absences to outclass Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and reassert their Premier League title challenge.
Pep Guardiola s men had scored more than twice in a league game just once since their opening match of the season, but were 3-0 up by half-time thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.
Victory lifts City to within four points of Liverpool and Manchester United at the top of the table, but with a game in hand on both to come.
Manchester City s Kevin de Bruyne
Photo: Photsoport
City manager Pep Guardiola had six players unavailable after positive tests but his team responded in scintillating fashion with goals by Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne dismantling Chelsea in 16 first-half minutes on Monday (NZ time).
After that it felt like damage limitation for a subdued Chelsea side whose season is unravelling alarmingly after a strong start, although substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi did grab a stoppage-time consolation goal.
City s vintage display lifted them to fifth in the table with 29 points, four behind joint leaders Liverpool and Manchester United having played one game less.
London (AFP) – Frank Lampard said Chelsea will have to go through “periods of pain” to reach the standards set by Manchester City after Pep Guardiola’s men outclassed the Blues in a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
City brushed off a series of coronavirus-related absences as goals from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne killed the game as a contest inside 35 minutes.
Victory lifts City to within four points of Liverpool and Manchester United at the top of the table, but with a game in hand on both to come.
Chelsea were expected to challenge for the title themselves after a £220 million ($300 million) spending spree in the transfer market, but a run of one win in six games has left them down in eighth, seven points off the pace having played a game more than the leaders.
MATCHDAY: Virus-hit Man City at Chelsea; Barça plays Huesca
By The Associated PressJanuary 3, 2021 GMT
Manchester City s head coach Pep Guardiola gives instructions during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec., 26, 2020. (Clive Brunskill/ Pool via AP)
Manchester City s head coach Pep Guardiola gives instructions during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec., 26, 2020. (Clive Brunskill/ Pool via AP)
A look at what’s happening around European soccer on Sunday:
ENGLAND
Manchester City is without five players at Chelsea due to coronavirus infections, with only goalkeeper Ederson, striker Gabriel Jesus and defender Kyle Walker identified as among the five. City is unusually low in eighth place in the Premier League, behind Chelsea in sixth on goal difference. After onl