MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola's Manchester City eased to a 2-0 win over Cardiff at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday (April 3) to retake top spot in the Premier League from title rivals Liverpool.
Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane were enough to lift City back into top spot, at least until Friday, when Jurgen Klopp's team visit Southampton.
City now have a maximum of 13 games remaining in a potentially historic season that could see them add the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League to the League Cup they lifted against Chelsea in February.
But, whatever the remaining two months holds for Guardiola's team, they are back in the driving seat in the Premier League on 80 points, one ahead of Liverpool. Both sides have six league games remaining.
Guardiola, whose side play Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, was able to make seven changes against Neil Warnock's struggling side, resting key players in the process.
The alterations did not dull City's attacking intent but Gabriel Jesus, chosen with Sergio Aguero having been left out as a precaution, was guilty of a string of first-half misses.
De Bruyne claimed the first goal, after just five minutes, from Aymeric Laporte's through ball, with a strong run and blistering shot from a tight angle that left questions over Neil Etheridge, beaten at his near post.
Sane struck just before half-time, driving a technically brilliant low shot into the far corner after Riyad Mahrez's cross had been cushioned into his path by Jesus.
CITY DOMINATION
But the Brazilian should have done better from any number of first-half chances, one coming after just 34 seconds when he slid in and narrowly missed converting De Bruyne's low cross into an open net.
Mahrez forced Etheridge into a diving, full-stretch save with an early, curling effort, Jesus skied a shot over from 12 yards and the City striker, again, miscued a close-range effort, under pressure from two defenders, after more good play from De Bruyne.
Guardiola's side also launched a breathtaking counter-attack that saw four of their players break against two from Cardiff only for De Bruyne to free Jesus who again wasted a shot that was deflected behind.
The only minor concern for Guardiola, with an eye on the remaining fixtures, was the loss of left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko after just 18 minutes to an apparent hamstring injury, although the introduction of substitute Kyle Walker hardly represented a downgrade.
City goalkeeper Ederson remained completely untroubled as the second half followed the same pattern.
Phil Foden, making his first ever Premier League start a month short of turning 19, saw his shot saved from just six yards out while De Bruyne's long-distance free-kick bounced just wide.
Sean Morrison almost turned a De Bruyne cross into his own goal and, in one intoxicating five-minute spell after the hour, six good City chances came and went, Etheridge saving well from Foden twice, a Laporte header, Mahrez and Sane while Fernandinho struck a post for good measure.
By the time Oumar Niasse steered Cardiff's first on-target shot of the evening directly at Ederson, after 74 minutes, the outcome had long since been decided and his shot even drew ironic cheers from his own supporters.
Gigi Buffon has told Paris Saint-Germain to show "a spirit of sacrifice for the team" with Edison Cavani joining Neymar in missing the trip to Manchester United. However, the goalkeeper is unhappy by the form and attitude of the French Champions after the 1-0 league win over Bordeaux.
Gianluigi Buffon, Chief Executive Officer at Buffon & Co. SRL
Bayern reach German Cup final to keep double in sight The Bavarians, who also beat Werder in the league last week, will now face RB Leipzig in the final on May 25.
Bayern reach German Cup final to keep double in sight
Ex-Dutch youth international Maguire seeks soaring start with Geylang : Ex-Utrecht and ex-Dutch youth international, out with injury for 2 years, wants to rebuild
DANIEL MAGUIRE PAPERS // Archives // Raynor Memorial
Crystal Palace put three goals past defending champions Manchester City, including a stunning volley by Andros Townsend, to win 3-2 on Sunday (NZ time) in the biggest upset of the English Premier
Arsenal 2-3 Crystal Palace: Gunners suffer SHOCK defeat to
FEST Camden hosted some of the best World Cup screenings in north London last summer, and now the organisers are hosting football fans for the Champions League final in its brand new venue Wonderfest.
UEFA Champions League Final - Live Screening at Tottenham
Atletico Madrid fell to their heaviest league defeat of the season as they were crushed 3-0 by Espanyol on Saturday, missing the chance to mathematically guarantee they finish second in La Liga
Atletico slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless
Liverpool will hope to pile the pressure on Man City by beating Southampton and returning to the top of the Premier League this evening. Live from St. Mary's, Friday Night Football returns to Sky
Liverpool beat Chelsea to return top of Premier League
When Malaysia last faced Vietnam in the knockout stages, they won 5-4 on aggregate in the two-leg semi-final of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup. In the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final at the
Tamil Play News from Malaysia, Latest Tamil Play News from
news.trendingnews.co.in/malaysia/tamil-play
Get the Tamil Play News from Malaysia, Latest Tamil Play News from Malaysia, Trending Tamil Play News from Malaysia, Current Tamil Play News From Malaysia on trendingnews.co.in. Grab exclusive coverage on breaking national news, current politics, regional and educational news with trending now, most popular from Malaysia.
Jakarta Casual: October 2008
Juventus had been looking to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the third time in the past five seasons. But Ronaldo, who scored an away goal last week with a diving header in Amsterdam, was Juve's only weapon against the impressive Dutch side.
Ajax stun Juventus to reach Champions League semi-final with
We lack rub of the green: Simeone, Football News & Top
'French Open sucks compared to Wimbledon sucks': Nick Kyrgios courts controversy once again as he takes swipe at Roland Garros before practice session with Andy Murray.
0 comments:
Post a Comment