Manchester City sleeps as leader of the Premier League, with two points ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool, after a victory without the need to reach maximum effort to beat Luton at the Etihad Stadium (5-1), with Pep Guardiola resting to key players like Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Foden, thinking about Real Madrid.
Filming for Manchester City, almost a training session with an audience against a Luton that was never a rival. Stalked by its situation, in decline, and by the significant defensive losses. With everything against him from the start, when a shot heading towards Haaland’s wing crashed into Hashioka’s face to end up in a corner of his goal.
A comfortable match that allowed Guardiola to reserve starters. Not a minute for Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Foden, giving the green light to Ederson’s return to goal and the leadership of Kevin De Bruyne, absent at the Santiago Bernabéu due to an illness. With freedom of movement, always appearing to damage the opponent and find spaces in the pass in Luton’s two united lines around their area.
If Rob Edwards had a plan, it was blown up in seconds. Unable to sustain City’s start, always exposed and without possession or the possibility of reaching the rival field. Victim of the rival’s high pressure and without quality to associate, reaching Ederson’s goal was an impossible mission.
He tried to stay on his feet because the pace of play was not high. He didn’t even need Guardiola’s team to generate danger and arrivals. Haaland opened the can after forgiving a one-on-one. He left after scoring a penalty in the second act but with the feeling of not being at his best in the definition. With hardly any opportunities to exploit his potential despite the fact that his team was installed in the opposite area.
The leading role went to Kaminski. The Belgian goalkeeper responded well to Gvardiol’s right hand, Nunes’ free kick and De Bruyne’s attempts. He was the only one who found Haaland, who finished off the clearest shot he had at his disposal. Guardiola’s defenders were involved in more dangerous actions than his center forward. A siege protected by 75% possession.
City needed goals in a fight for the title so close that it could be decisive. He found them in the second act, when Luton’s attempt to take a step forward was harshly punished. It was a matter of time and attempts, with Julián Álvarez off in the definition, until Kovacic appeared.
Guardiola’s men had 25 shots to none from their rival and the Croatian midfielder unleashed a half hour of scoring festival. He forgave the first one, with his shot caressing the post after hitting an opponent, and he hooked that corner with a powerful overhead kick. This is unstoppable for Kaminski.
With everything lost, Luton began to step on the rival field. On his first arrival he crashed into the crossbar, when Onyedinma stole Gvardiol’s wallet and Woodrow broke it. And he scored the goal of honor when Doku had already caused a clear penalty with his dribbling ability and Haaland had deceived with his body in the definition.
Ederson returned to the competition with a good reflex save with his legs against Doughty but he could have done nothing about the serious error in the ball’s release when, after throwing a pass with excessive power, a poor control by Nunes arrived that preceded the quality goal. by Barkley.
Four days away from risking their future in Europe and the defense of the ‘Champions’ crown, several players wanted to show off against Pep. Especially Doku, unbalancing on both sides who achieved what he was after, the goal, with an action of cuts and speed with a final definition full of quality. In addition, the left-footed Gvuardiol showed that his goal at the Bernabéu was no coincidence with another excellent right-footed shot into the top corner.
– Datasheet:
5 – Manchester City: Ederson; Akanji, Reuben Dias, Guardian; Rico Lewis, Kovacic; Nunes, Julian Alvarez, Doku, De Bruyne (Sergio Gomez, m.81); y Haaland (Bobb, m.81).
1 – Luton: Kaminski; Hashioka, Burke, Doughty; Onyedinma (Nelson, m.88), Barkley, Clark (Johnson, m.88), Berry (Mpanzu, m.77); Townsend (Woodrow, m.59), Chong y Morris.
Goals: 1-0, m.2: Hashioka, own goal. 2-0, m.64: Kovacic. 3-0, m.76: Haaland, from a penalty. 3-1, m.81: Barkley. 4-1, m.87: Doc. 5-1, m.93: Guardiol.
Referee: J.Brooks. He booked De Bruyne (43) for City.
Incidents: match corresponding to the thirty-third matchday of the Premier League played at the Etihad Stadium. EFE
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