The Premier League is already a head-to-head between Arsenal, leader with one more game, and a Manchester City that did not need to get close to the best of its versions to maintain the pulse based on efficiency at the home of Nottingham Forest, exploiting the difference in punch and the ‘De Bruyne factor’ in Erling Haaland’s return with a goal.
After Liverpool’s resignation from the fight for the league, Manchester City responded effectively to Arsenal’s demands for their fourth consecutive title victory. Without brilliance, with less fluidity in his football. At times weak to the rival’s courageous attacks. Saved by Wood’s lack of success and the opportunism of Gvuardiol, a player who has the best scoring numbers.
In one of those experiments ‘made in Guardiola’. At times moving away from the side a player who already showed against Real Madrid and Luton that he is sweet. On this occasion it was not a great goal from outside the area with his right foot, as in both games. He appeared at the first post to surprise the rival and head in the first gift from Kevin De Bruyne, the differential footballer who decides the course of the matches.
The victory was essential for Guardiola’s team to continue depending on itself. He had to work on it in a field where the last league dropped two points, against a Nottingham Forest that is fighting one point away from falling into the abyss. Of course, without any complexes against the current champion. Punishing with speed and quick transitions. Warning within 25 seconds that any mistake could be costly. Neco Williams appeared at the far post and Gvardiol appeared to save the goal.
Guardiola’s game plan did not work as he wanted. On one of those days when Doku was not fine in the overflow. With Julián Álvarez disconnected in the 9 zone. Without Bernardo Silva finding ways to create danger. Rodri, tireless in the robbery, and De Bruyne, assumed responsibility.
Both met at the first warning, with De Bruyne’s cutback and the shot to the long post that took out Sels’ stretch in the ninth minute. But the game was open. Nottingham Forest felt they could cause damage. Gibbs-White kicked a delicately touched free-kick near the crossbar and Ederson took out a sharp shot from Williams. City suffered from set pieces.
The difference was made by the millions of euros that differentiate some players from others. Wood failed what should never be forgiven against a great. First with a header, finishing off Gibbs-White’s perfect screw center. The precision came from Gvardiol’s header from De Bruyne’s corner kick.
And later with two rude mistakes from a striker. Only to be pushed by Wood at 38 minutes. In the mouth of the goal, free of marking, hooking the ball badly at first. Repeating at 47 minutes, again two steps from the goal line but this time connecting the shot well but running into Gvardiol. Three occasions that will be on his mind for hours.
City emerged unscathed from its nap, losing its starting goalkeeper again along the way, with a strong blow to the shoulder that subsequently caused a bad start and a ball rained from the sky that Murillo was unable to specify. The greater aggressiveness of Nottingham Forest did not find the reward of the goal and Guardiola’s changes at half-time, three at a time, and the entry of Haaland on the scene, changed the panorama.
The presence of the Norwegian gave freedom of movement to Julián Álvarez, who thanked him in seconds. He caressed the crossbar with his left foot after De Bruyne’s pass into space, of course. City smelled blood and sentenced when they wanted. With his rival slowing down, beginning to suffer after wear and tear and run after the ball.
Saved by his goalkeeper with the flight of De Bruyne’s placed shot but finally surpassed when the same assistant, in his 16th goal pass of a season in which he missed months due to injury, presented Haaland one-on-one against Murillo, to cut back left foot and finish, with the quality that Wood lacked, from the right to the net.
. Datasheet:
0 – Notthingham Forest: Sales; Williams Sangare, m.84), Boly, Murillo (Omobamidele, m.74), Niakhate, Aina; Danilo (Yates, m.74), Gibbs-White, Garden (Queen, m.74), Hudson-Odoi; and Wood.
2 – Manchester City: Ederson (Ortega, m.46); Walker, Akanji, Aké, Guardiol; Rodri, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne (Nunes, m.89); Doku (Kovacic, m.46), Grealish (Haaland, m.62) and Julián Álvarez (Bobb, m.89).
Goals: 0-1, m.32: Guardiol. 0-2, m.71: Haland.
Referee: Simon Hooper. He didn’t show cards.
Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 35 of the Premier League, played at the City Ground stadium in front of some 29,677 spectators. EFE
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