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| Foden (left) with De Bruyne (right) celebrating |
The first Traditional "Big Six" fixture of the 2021 calendar year saw the meeting of Blues from London Chelsea face the Blues from Manchester,Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in a potential season defining game.
City's game against Everton in the midweek was called off after 5 people from their players and stuff had tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile Chelsea who lost 3-1 to Arsenal on Boxing Day followed up with a draw to Aston Villa. Once at the top of the table,Chelsea had only picked up 4 points out of a possible 15 in their last 5 league games.
City were missing several key players due to COVID-19 including Goalkeeper Ederson. In his place 2nd choice keeper, Zach Steffen the US International made his Premier League debut. Despite the fact they were missing players, they showed their dominace in the first half and reminded everyone that there are still in the title picture.
Their Manager Pep Guardiola hailed his team for their great performance and claimed his City played like they use to be in recent seasons when they won back to back league title.
Chelsea would argue that they should have had a Penalty when Rodri fouled Timo Werner in the opening stages of the game. At first it looked a clear challenge but the replays showed that he catched Werner's foot and not the ball just at the edge of the box.
Moments later Kevin De Bruyne the former Chelsea man had a great chance to open the scoring after being played through by Cancelo. The Belgium International somehowed managed to fire it wide the post.
2 minutes later,City finally broke the deadlock through a fierce strike from Ilkay Gundogan. Zinchenko found Phil Foden who simply laid the ball to the German to finish it off to make it 1-0.
City added a second goal,3 minutes later after Kevin De Bruyne's cross which nutmegged Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta legs and found Phil Foden who made no mistake to slot it home in the near corner beating Mendy.
Chelsea were awarded a free kick in a good position in the 33rd minute. After a mistake from Kante,De Bruyne headed it towards Raheem Sterling who found himself one on one with Mendy from halfway line. He tried to race past Mendy but had to check back. For an instance it looked like he took too much time and then he slotted his effort to hit the post but luckily the ball fell straight to De Bruyne who ensured City had a third goal.
A minute later City had another chance to score but Phil Foden couldn't keep his header down. In the dying stages of the first half, Foden laid out a ball which arrived a little bit late to Gundogan who couldn't apply much power in his shot and steered it inches wide.
Chelsea were never in the game and it was a competition between Mens vs Boys as City took their gas of the pedal but looked dangerous on counter attack. Chelsea pulled one back with the last kick of the game when the two substitutes Kai Havertz and Callum Hudson Odoi combined for the latter to smash it home from close range to make it 1-3 for the hosts.
Pressure now increases on Frank Lampard with just 4 points now from a possible 18. Chelsea will now be in FA Cup action before a London Derby against Fulham. Meanwhile City will travel to Old Trafford again for the EFL Cup Semi Final against United.
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