Chelsea have now failed to score in against City since beating them in the UCL Final
Last night at the Stamford Bridge, Premier League champions moved 5 points closer to Arsenal as they defeated the Londoners by 1-0. Both the clubs met for the second time this season, and the Sky blues came out on top on both occasions. Thanks to Pep Guardiola’s second half substitutions, the champions were able to win but there is still a long way to go.
Both the teams will meet 2 more time this season – first at the FA Cup two days later and their final meeting will be at the Etihad Stadium in mat before the 2022/23 PL season concludes. Meanwhile, its been exactly 360 minutes since Chelsea last scored a goal against City. It was their 4th meeting since the UEFA Champions League final in May 2021.
Since then Chelsea’s owners have been changed, manager has been changed, tactics have changed too but their results haven’t. They are hanging at the 10th spot in the PL standings with 25 points. The Blues are below teams like Brentford, Brighton as well as Fulham with only 7 wins to their name.
The 2-time European Champions did have a few chances during the game when they could have taken the lead. In the first-half, City were not moving fluidly as they usually do and Chelsea had come as close as hitting the posts but none of their forwards could convert the chances into goals.
Moreover, City looked dull initially and Guardiola raised the eyebrows once again after Rodri was seen operating as a Center-back. Instead of playing with the traditional 4-3-3, City went with a 3-2-4-1 and somewhat his tactics would leave acres of space for Chelsea to exploit.
However, in the second-half, Guardiola took Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden off for Riyadh Mahrez and Jack Grealish. And it took them only 3 minutes 43 seconds to make an impact. A move that began from the right flank with Mahrez playing the ball in the midfield to De Bruyne and the Belgian finding Grealish at the left before a grounded cross finished back by Mahrez.
That was the difference maker and the Algerian forward has now scored 40 goals for City. Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne had a relatively quiet evening but City were still the winners.
Erling Haaland's game by numbers vs Chelsea:
31 touches
3 shots
3 duels won
1 chance created
0.87 xG
0 goalsTyping that last line felt WEIRD. 😅 pic.twitter.com/Luez6QKCvk
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 5, 2023
John Stones was the man of the match for City as he completed the most passes, won every aerial duel and won back possession 4 times.
John Stones' game by numbers vs Chelsea:
â—‰ 102 touches (most)
â—‰ 100% aerial duels won (highest)
â—‰ 98% passing accuracy (highest)
â—‰ 85 passes complete (most)
â—‰ 14 final third entries (most)
â—‰ 7 duels won (most)
â—Ž 4 clearances
◎ 4 possession wonMOTM. 🪨 pic.twitter.com/dsnhy2wSnX
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 5, 2023
City and Chelsea will meet again in two days at the Etihad for their FA Cup 3rd Round clash. Will Graham Potter’s side outclass city in their 3rd attempt this season?
