The “Citizens” suffered the opener from Raheem Sterling (42nd), a veteran of the house, and managed to equalize at the end of the game thanks to Rodri (83rd). The goal from the Spanish midfielder, hero of the last Champions League final, allows the European champions to limit the damage, three months after being held in check by Chelsea in London (4-4). They still stretched their unbeaten streak to fifteen matches, in all competitions (13 wins, two draws).
In the standings, Pep Guardiola’s team is third with 53 points, two lengths from Arsenal (2nd, 55 pts) and four from Liverpool (1st, 57 pts). However, it could overtake the “Gunners” in the event of a victory on Tuesday against Brentford in a late match. Chelsea, tenth, put in a solid, courageous and encouraging performance in the wake of Axel Disasi. The Frenchman kept his team in the game before the break with several decisive interventions, including a header saved on his line (45th), slowed down a shot from Erling Haaland (65th) and repelled a dangerous shot from Kyle Walker, which Rodri however exploited on the equalizer. The Spaniard replaced Haaland in the role of saving scorer. The Norwegian striker lacked precision with his head (12th, 78th) and on a recovery (51st), in particular, a week after a double against Everton (2-0). Sterling, former City star (2015-2022), was surgical in opening the scoring. The 29-year-old winger got rid of Kyle Walker with a hook before eliminating Ederson with a powerful strike and celebrating, while restrained, his first goal since the end of November in the Premier League.
2. Lewandowski gives Barca victory
Still struggling, FC Barcelona achieved a miraculous success on the Celta Vigo pitch (2-1), with a penalty scored at the end of added time by Robert Lewandowski, author of a double, to regain third place in Liga. The Polish striker offered victory to the Blaugranas by converting a penalty caused by Lamine Yamal, taken twice, after seeing his first attempt repelled by Guaita, who had however left his line too early (90th + 7). A 12th goal in the league for Lewandowski, which allows Barça (3rd, 54 points) to regain its place on the podium ahead of Atlético Madrid (4th, 51 points) and temporarily return to seven lengths behind its great rival Real ( 1st, 61 points) which travels today to its neighbor Rayo Vallecano, and two from Girona (2nd, 56 points).
Xavi’s men, who has already announced his departure at the end of the season due to the unsatisfactory results of his team, had nevertheless opened the scoring just before half-time with a cross shot from the right from Lewandowski (45th, 1-0). But they cracked again in the first minute of the second period, the indestructible Iago Aspas equalizing with a shot blocked by Koundé (46th, 1-1), proof of the current feverishness of the Barcelona defense.
3. Juventus leaves the field open to Inter
Juventus Turin let slip two new points in the title race by settling for a draw (2-2) at poorly ranked Verona. Juve is now nine points behind Inter Milan (63 pts), an easy winner (4-0) of Salernitana on Friday and who has played one match less. The Bianconeri have lost their footing in the last three weeks, with two defeats and two draws, or two points out of twelve possible, while the Milanese leader has achieved a faultless performance at the same time.
2024-02-17 20:10:51
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