Whereas Manchester Metropolis might need gone about issues the exhausting means on Saturday afternoon, the Sky Blues claimed a 2-1 victory in opposition to Leeds on the Etihad.
Storming their approach to a 2-0 lead when heading into the half-time break as Ilkay Gundogan bagged a cultured brace, it appeared that’s was set to be one other routine show for Pep Guardiola’s aspect.
Nevertheless, with Gundogan lacking out on the possibility to assert a primary Premier League hat-trick after lacking from the penalty spot, Leeds definitely arrange a nail-biting ending as second-half substitute Rodrigo halved the deficit simply 58 seconds after Gundogan’s spot-kick miss.
However, with Metropolis dragging themselves over the end line and lengthening their unbeaten run to twenty video games throughout all competitions, Guardiola’s aspect now have a four-point buffer over Arsenal.
Whereas the Premier League giants is perhaps in pole place to assert a 3rd straight home crown, Saturday’s company now face an actual uphill battle of their bid to keep away from the drop.
Though new boss Sam Allardyce might need recognized that he confronted a monumental problem in his first recreation accountable for Leeds, the Yorkshire-based outfit have collected only a single level from any of their final six Premier League appearances.
In a showdown between two sides who’re firmly battling it out at reverse ends of the desk, we now have taken a have a look at the primary speaking factors from Saturday’s battle on the Etihad.
It’s now formally Metropolis’s title to lose
Whereas Manchester Metropolis might need marked their return from March’s worldwide break dealing with an actual battle in a bid to defend their Premier League crown, Guardiola’s famous person squad have definitely hit prime gear at a vital time.
Heading into this weekend’s fixtures after finally breezing their approach to a 3-0 romp in opposition to West Ham on Wednesday night time, the ex-Barcelona boss has solely seen his aspect proceed to shine over the previous few months.
Now holding a four-point buffer over title rivals Arsenal and using what has been a stellar wave of momentum, the Sky Blues now have their sights firmly set on finishing a well-known silverware sweep.
Punching their Champions League semi-final ticket on April nineteenth as they stormed their approach to a 4-1 mixture romp in opposition to German giants Bayern Munich, Saturday’s hosts are sat in pole place to be topped home and European champions in 2023.
Unbeaten in every of their final 20 straight appearances throughout all competitions – a run that stems all the best way again to a 1-0 loss away at Tottenham on February fifth – Guardiola’s aspect have solely underlined why they’re regarded to be among the many Premier League’s biggest dynasties.
With their Champions League semi-final showdown in opposition to Actual Madrid quick approaching in midweek, it’s exhausting to search out any membership that can be capable to cease Manchester Metropolis over the ultimate few weeks.
Allardyce faces what’s one in every of his hardest gigs
With many throughout the Premier League stunned to see the Leeds hierarchy appoint Allardyce on a four-game deal earlier within the week, the one-time England boss can be greater than conscious that he faces an enormous uphill battle over the ultimate few weeks.
Whereas the veteran boss might need definitely gained a repute for his capacity to deliver golf equipment again from the brink of Premier League relegation, even Allardyce will know that there’s solely a lot he can do after arriving in Yorkshire just a few days in the past.
Going through what was all the time going to be a monumental problem after they traveled to the defending Premier League champions on Saturday afternoon, it’s no secret that many round Elland Street have accepted their destiny.
Solely persevering with to achieve a repute for his or her fairly obvious defensive points and understanding that they may simply end Monday’s fixtures sat again within the bottom-three, issues definitely don’t get any simpler for a Leeds aspect which have now collected only a single level from their final six Premier League appearances.
Struggling thumping defeats by the hands of Bournemouth and Crystal Palace on their nightmare spell, Allardyce’s aspect can be subsequent seen after they welcome Champions League contenders Newcastle to city subsequent weekend.
Gundogan virtually goes from hero to villain
Whereas it is perhaps the record-breaking Erling Haaland who has stolen a lot of the Premier League headlines this season, it was Metropolis’s midfield veteran that proved to be the distinction maker right here.
Nevertheless, though Gundogan might need bagged an exquisite first-half brace from outdoors the field, the ex-Borussia Dortmund ace shortly turned Saturday’s villain in simply the area of some minutes.
Lacking from the spot and denied the possibility to assert a primary Premier League hat-trick, Guardiola was visibly pissed off on the touchline that Haaland had been faraway from spot-kick duties with out his blessing.
With Rodrigo then changing down the opposite finish simply 58 seconds after the German worldwide hit the woodwork, there is no such thing as a doubt that Gundogan was probably the most relieved man in Manchester to listen to the ultimate whistle.
Taken off within the last few seconds and with Guardiola clearly unimpressed with Metropolis’s veteran midfielder, the previous Barcelona boss will know that he cannot enable any complacency to settle into his squad.
Match Report
Manchester Metropolis: Ederson, Akanki, Laporte, Ake, Lewis, Gündoğan, Mahrez, Alvarez, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland
Subs: Silva, Rodri, Walker
Leeds: Robles, Ayling, Nissen, Wober, Firpo, McKennie, Roca, Harrison, Forshaw, Gnonto, Bamford
Subs: Rodrigo, Greenwood, Summerville, Aaronson, Struijk
Objectives: Manchester Metropolis: Gundogan (19’, 27’) – Leeds: Rodrigo (85’)
Yellow Playing cards: McKennie, Gnonto, Rodrigo
Pink Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Andy Madley
