Pressured by Arsenal, winner 3-0 three hours before the start of their match, Manchester City remains the sole and maximum favorite for the ‘Premier’ title, with the certainty that if they win each of their last three games will be unattainable at the top, after beating Wolves 5-1 with four goals from Erling Haaland.
A conclusive, predictable response, which keeps them one point behind the leadership of the London team, but with a premise that conditions everything: Manchester City has played one game less, which they will make up on Tuesday, May 14 against Tottenham, thus who is the only one who depends on himself with two days left, three for him. An advantage.
He is not the leader, but he does act as one. Arsenal pressures him, City responds. As in the previous quote, in the same order. There are now six consecutive wins in this competition for the group led by Pep Guardiola, which has gone 20 days without defeat, with 16 victories. At the Etihad, which paid an emotional tribute to David Silva, there are 29 matches without losing, since November 12, 2022. Their only clean slate at home in the 43 most recent duels.
His victory this Saturday got him back on track quickly, in ten minutes, although the penalty that he proposed to take advantage admits of debate. Bernardo Silva’s pass was connected by Gvardiol. He had already finished when Ait Nouri collided with him excessively, but also later, as a consequence of an action already completed. The referee, Craig Pawson, looked, lasted and signaled the maximum penalty. Too rigorous, to say the least.
Erling Haaland aimed the shot from the eleven meters, deceived José Sá and converted the 1-0 with which Manchester City further tamed Wolves, who did not even shoot in the entire first half. Not even outside Ederson’s framework. Before, the local team and the Norwegian scorer had already sentenced it, with a perfect header, very much his own: 2-0, minute 35.
It didn’t stop there. On the brink of half-time, a run towards goal was stopped by Nelson Semedo with a trip. The referee did not see it in the first instance. The VAR detected it, he confirmed it on the monitor and Haaland, once again, transformed it with the simplicity as always to widen the difference between the number one contender for the title and a defeated rival.
Not even Hwang Hee Chan’s 3-1, in a resounding failure in Ederson’s clearance, worried City or Haaland. Wolves’ goal was in the 52nd minute and 25 seconds. The 4-1 for the Norwegian scorer, author of 36 goals this campaign, was 59 seconds later, at 53:24, when he entered the area, dribbled, took shape and scored another goal with his right foot.
A display by Haaland, who has only failed to hit the rival goal in eight of the 27 games he has played in this season of the ‘Premier League’, with 21 goals, and seven concentrated in the last four, when the competition for The title is on the boil, when even the scorer becomes more necessary, amid the recent criticism it has suffered. He even tried the fifth, in a overhead kick that Toti saved in a saving way.
Substituting Haaland, his replacement, the Argentine Julián Álvarez, followed in his teammate’s footsteps, with the score 5-1 just two minutes after entering the field. The pass was from Rodri. His definition to round off a favorite victory. Maybe, if Manchester City continues like this, as champions. He is three wins away from being one.
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