Match Report & Player Ratings: Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City (Premier League)

Match Report & Player Ratings: Chelsea 0-3 Manchester City (Premier League)

This wasn’t the greatest Manchester City performance in recent times but the luxury of it is, it didn’t need to be. They turned up, got the job done with a stellar second-half showing and continued to hunt down a withering Arsenal.

After Mikel Arteta’s side deservedly dropped points after being condemned by Bournemouth just over 24 hours before this game, Pep Guardiola’s side turned up here with a killer instinct as they closed the gap to six points.

For the first-half, which included an offside goal from Marc Cucurella, City were pressured amongst some convincing chances for themselves but they couldn’t find the finishing touches needed to break the deadlock.

Nico O’Reilly suffers hamstring injury in Manchester City clash with Chelsea

That was until the second-half where Nico O’Reilly, who had to go off 12 minutes after his goal with a suspected hamstring issue, and Marc Guehi put City 2-0 up before the hour in dominant fashion before Jeremy Doku added a chastening blow to Liam Rosenior’s side.

Some would have to imagine how Arteta feels seeing this result and whether or not Arsenal, who have finished second in the past three seasons, can retain their hold on the title. They are still six points clear, after all.

Indeed, three valuable points sets up an even more interesting battle between the Premier League’s top two next week, but if the second half is anything to go off here, Arsenal and Arteta must be prepared for their hardest game of the season.

From the start, a quick-fire onslaught from City saw multiple opportunities come close but never close enough. After three minutes, Antoine Semenyo yielded a corner before Matheus Nunes and Rodri threatened from crosses.

Looking for a first Premier League win over City since 2021, Chelsea struggled to get started until Cole Palmer led a motivated counter-attack before slipping past Rodri in the box and rippling the side netting.

And from there came a push from Rosenior’s side that saw Cucurella find the corner and a subsequent breakthrough, though it was disallowed after Joao Pedro released his delivery a second too early.

Confirmed Line-Ups: Chelsea vs Manchester City (Premier League)

The disallowed goal didn’t discourage a Chelsea side who were hunting to solidify, and somewhat keep alive, their chances of UEFA Champions League qualification.

After 19 minutes, Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off a strong, low save to prevent Pedro Neto from an 11th goal this season, while Pedro got ahead of Guehi but failed to make anything of Malo Gusto’s cross 10 minutes later.

City regained balance and strived to take the lead with their greatest chance up to the half-way point coming after 34 minutes when Bernardo Silva tried to slip an O’Reilly pull-back into the back of the net. But Wesley Fofana intervened and Robert Sanchez collected without much concern.

There were gaping holes in the Chelsea midfield that were often being exploited by Silva, becoming the most-appeared Portuguese player in Premier League history here, and Rodri – but City’s finishing touches were feeble.

O’Reilly drifted quickly past Estevao and fed Cherki on the edge of the area but the Frenchman’s effort was flat before, with a minute of regulation remaining in the opening period, Semenyo’s low, left-footed effort from the middle of the 18-yard line was prodded away by Andrey Santos.

City’s clinical weaknesses were healed by the 57th minute when first, O’Reilly got onto the end of a stunning Cherki cross to head beyond Sanchez before Guehi pulled off a striker’s finish into the bottom-left pocket of the net.

Bernardo Silva sets new all-time Premier League milestone in Chelsea clash

Circumstances never improved for Chelsea amid a time where only Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur have picked up fewer points since Rosenior came in, and the third soon went in when Doku pressed and stole the ball off Moises Caicedo before slotting into the net with his left foot.

Here’s how we rated the Manchester City players from their crucial victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge!

Starting XI

Ginaluigi Donnarumma – 7

The Italian was tested well after 19 minutes by Neto and made a stunning save. Good decision making, especially in the first half when he rushed out to beat Pedro to a loose ball. Stopped Cucurella late on.

Matheus Nunes – 5.5

A strong performance down the right, working well with Semenyo and Bernardo in the middle to create, manage and build-up. No complaints.

Abdukodir Khusanov – 6

Made an astonishing tackle inside the opening 10 minutes to deny Pedro. Looked shaky at times when under pressure, particularly with long balls, but held up well.

Marc Guehi – 7

Could have stopped Pedro from getting ahead of him in the first half but didn’t put a foot wrong elsewhere. An incredible finish following a great pass by Cherki.

Nico O’Reilly – 6.5

What a player. After scoring twice against Newcastle and then Arsenal in the Carabao Cup Final, he is likely to show up in Arsenal’s nightmares once again with an important opener here.

Bernardo Silva – 6

Hard to imagine there’ll be any spaces in his heatmap after running all over at Stamford Bridge, showing his immense and intense discipline. An incredible player.

Rodri – 5.5

Struggled to get to grips with Chelsea’s fast football at first, struggling to keep possession and at one point giving the hosts a promising chance on goal. Lucky to escape an early card after pulling Palmer down.

Antoine Semenyo – 6.5

Led plenty of attacks down the right and worked well alongside Cherki in attacking midfield. Drifted inside which often helped Haaland drop deeper and had shots of his own, though none amounted to anything.

Rayan Cherki – 7.5 (POTM)

One of City’s best players at the moment, for both his winding up antics and talent on the ball. Two great assists, including a stabbed effort to Guehi after 57 minutes.

Jeremy Doku – 7

Held onto the ball for too long at times but made Gusto struggle a lot. He’d often get double-marked which opened spaces elsewhere. His goal showed how intelligent and quick he is to dispossess Caicedo and put City’s third in the net.

Erling Haaland – 6

No goal for him today but an otherwise perfect performance. He tracked back, ran forward and attacked every high ball to try and make the greatest impact for his side.

Substitutes

Rayan Ait-Nouri – 6

Filled in for O’Reilly, who went off with a problem, and stayed back where necessary. Partnered up with Savinho in the latter stages to create more.

Mateo Kovacic – 4

After 173 days he returned to action for City, and although he didn’t contribute to much in the nine minutes he played, it was great to see him back.

Savinho – 4

Took advantage of the Cucurella’s tired legs and worked tight to the byline. A good idea is inevitably to minimise Doku’s minutes.

Phil Foden – 4

An intelligent decision to take Cherki off to recover and Foden gained some valuable minutes too. Dropped back to help retain the clean sheet and created, albeit minimally, in the final stages.