EFE.- After score in three straight gameseverything from returning to competition after the World Cup, Erling Haaland was en blancobut Algerian Riyad Mahrez attended the to save of Manchester City leave Stamford Bridge with a win 1-0 against Chelsea yes close the gap to Arsenal running for Prime Minister’s guide.
It was one of the more discreet encounters for Haaland, who had resumed activity after Qatar 2022 with great precision. He had already scored four goals since football returned to England. That was not the case in a key clash for Manchester City, who are taking advantage of the stumble of leaders, Arsenal, who drew against Newcastle on Tuesday, a golden opportunity to close the gap and resume the fight for the title .
NO OPTIONS
During the first half, Manchester City was subdued by Chelsea, a team on low hours, plagued by absences and with moderate results that keep them out of the European positions. Chelsea lost two more men, who were left without Raheem Sterling after five minutes and without Christian Pulisic after twenty.
However it went better at the start against an unknown City, cornered by the Londoners, with more grit but without grit, without completeness in the actions. The first clear occasion of the clash, in fact, was for the guests. From Haaland. The Norwegian caught a pass from Ilkay Gundogan and shot high with his left foot.
ANOTHER FACE
But Manchester City came out looking different after the break. He advanced the pressure lines and caused inaccuracy in the local team. Kevin De Bruyne’s cross at the far post was cleared onto the crossbar by Dutchman Nathan Aké. The Belgian then shot low and Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saved the goal. And a minute later, a fine individual play by Bernardo Silva ends with a pass from De Bruyne who shoots wide.
Chelsea survived in a bad way that they ran into the score against after the hour of play. It was in the 63rd minute when a team attack ended with a pass from De Bruyne to Jack Grealish, on the left. The England international sent a precise cross to the far post which Mahrez entered and just had to push into the net.
Chelsea have lost their options, desperately looking for a draw. Potter resorted to a triple substitution, with Lewis Hall, Omari Giraud-Hutchinson and Conor Gallagher, but the visitors’ second was closer than the local equalizer.
With the victory, Manchester City are five points behind Arsenal and narrow the race for the leadership of the Premier League, while Chelsea drop to tenth position. Eight from the European zone marked by Tottenham.
