De Bruyne strike lifts Man City 13 points clear

Published on: 15 January 2022

Kevin de Bruyne's sixth league goal of the campaign proved decisive for leaders Manchester City at Etihad Stadium

Kevin de Bruyne produced a moment of world-class quality to tighten Manchester City's stranglehold on the Premier League title race with victory over Chelsea at Etihad Stadium.

The former Chelsea player broke the deadlock in a tight game with a superb curling drive past keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with 20 minutes left to extend City's lead at the top of the table to an imposing 13 points.

Chelsea had their chances, the best coming when Ederson saved from Romelu Lukaku in the second half but De Bruyne made the difference and City now also have a 14-point advantage over Liverpool, who have two games in hand.

City deserved the win for their greater urgency and possession, Kepa keeping out Jack Grealish with a first-half save, and this represents another significant stride in their quest to retain the Premier League crown.

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De Bruyne makes the difference

In a game of this nature, fought out by two well-disciplined sides led by elite managers in Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel, it always seemed likely a mistake or a moment of the highest quality would settle it.

And so it proved as De Bruyne created and finished the decisive move all on his own as City and Chelsea strived to make the breakthrough.

City had not been able to impose sustained threat on Chelsea, despite having so much possession, but they have the calibre of player who can fashion a goal out of nothing.

On this occasion, it was De Bruyne who stepped up, running deep into Chelsea territory in the 70th minute before curling a perfect low right-foot finish before the outstretched left arm of Kepa and into the bottom corner.

Etihad Stadium celebrated in a fashion fitting for a moment of such class and importance and these three points once again give the impression that City's lead in the title race is pretty much unassailable.

Guardiola has stars at the other end too and keeper Ederson played his part with a vital save from Lukaku when he was clean through. He also brought fist pumps and wild applause from his manager when he raced out of the area to head clear and snuff out Chelsea danger late on.

City closed out the win without any serious alarms, Guardiola and his team striking a huge blow as they try to see off the chasing pack - which is effectively Chelsea and Liverpool - at the top of the Premier League.

Chelsea show effort but no inspiration

Chelsea for long spells looked like they might leave Etihad Stadium with some reward for a performance in which they kept Manchester City at arm's length for long periods.

In the end, however, they were undone by that moment of De Bruyne genius and their own inability take the rare opportunities that came.

Lukaku, who looks to be struggling for form and confidence, had those opportunities that you simply must cash in on against a team going for their 12th successive league win.

He was in a good position to shoot in the first half as he broke clear but chose to pass up responsibility and play in Hakim Ziyech, who added to manager Tuchel's frustration by straying into an offside position.

The biggest chance of all came when Lukaku was played through by Kovacic in the second half with the scoreline still goalless. There was not too much wrong with his finish but it lacked a little conviction and Ederson was able to make a save that proved crucial.

Tuchel's discontent was clear throughout as he saw his team penned in by City but Chelsea could have got something, even if it may have been fortuitous in the context of the entire game.

Once De Bruyne ended the stalemate, Chelsea had little to offer and in reality any very slim title hopes they may have had have been extinguished completely by this defeat.

Player of the match

De BruyneKevin De Bruyne

with an average of 8.42

    Man CityManchester CityManchester CityChelseaChelseaChelsea

Manchester CityAvgSquad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating

8.42

Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating

7.62

Squad number7Player nameSterlingAverage rating

7.58

Squad number27Player nameJoão CanceloAverage rating

7.57

Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating

7.33

Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating

7.31

Squad number14Player nameLaporteAverage rating

7.27

Squad number5Player nameStonesAverage rating

7.22

Squad number2Player nameWalkerAverage rating

7.18

Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating

7.12

Squad number8Player nameGündoganAverage rating

7.06

Squad number9Player nameGabriel JesusAverage rating

6.74

Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating

6.58

ChelseaAvgSquad number1Player nameArrizabalagaAverage rating

5.95

Squad number2Player nameRüdigerAverage rating

5.78

Squad number6Player nameThiago SilvaAverage rating

5.75

Squad number7Player nameKantéAverage rating

5.70

Squad number8Player nameKovacicAverage rating

5.34

Squad number31Player nameSarrAverage rating

5.23

Squad number28Player nameAzpilicuetaAverage rating

5.19

Squad number19Player nameMountAverage rating

4.87

Squad number3Player nameAlonsoAverage rating

4.68

Squad number10Player namePulisicAverage rating

4.58

Squad number20Player nameHudson-OdoiAverage rating

4.41

Squad number11Player nameWernerAverage rating

4.36

Squad number9Player nameLukakuAverage rating

4.32

Squad number22Player nameZiyechAverage rating

4.23

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsMan City

Formation 4-3-3

31Ederson2Walker5Stones14Laporte27Cancelo20Bernardo Silva16Rodri17De Bruyne7Sterling47Foden10Grealish

    31Ederson2Walker5Stones14Laporte27Cancelo20Bernardo Silva16Rodri17De BruyneSubstituted forGündoganat 85'minutes7Sterling47FodenSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 88'minutes10Grealish

Substitutes

    3Rúben Dias8Gündogan9Gabriel Jesus13Steffen25Fernandinho79Mbete87McAtee90Lavia97Wilson-Esbrand

Chelsea

Formation 3-4-2-1

1Arrizabalaga2Rüdiger6Thiago Silva31Sarr28Azpilicueta7Kanté8Kovacic3Alonso10Pulisic22Ziyech9Lukaku

    1Arrizabalaga2Rüdiger6Thiago Silva31Sarr28Azpilicueta7Kanté8KovacicBooked at 32mins3AlonsoBooked at 7minsSubstituted forMountat 81'minutes10PulisicSubstituted forWernerat 69'minutes22ZiyechSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 69'minutes9Lukaku

Substitutes

    5Jorginho11Werner12Loftus-Cheek13Bettinelli17Saúl18Barkley19Mount20Hudson-Odoi29Havertz

Referee:Craig PawsonAttendance:53,319Match StatsHome TeamMan CityAway TeamChelseaPossessionHome56%Away44%ShotsHome11Away4Shots on TargetHome6Away1CornersHome9Away1FoulsHome11Away6Live TextPost update

Match ends, Manchester City 1, Chelsea 0.

90'+4'Full Time

Second Half ends, Manchester City 1, Chelsea 0.

90'+3'Post update

Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).

90'+3'Post update

Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'Post update

Offside, Chelsea. César Azpilicueta tries a through ball, but Timo Werner is caught offside.

88'Substitution

Substitution, Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus replaces Phil Foden.

86'Post update

Attempt saved. Jack Grealish (Manchester City) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Rodri.

85'Substitution

Substitution, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Kevin De Bruyne.

84'Post update

Attempt missed. Phil Foden (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.

81'Substitution

Substitution, Chelsea. Mason Mount replaces Marcos Alonso.

79'Post update

Foul by Bernardo Silva (Manchester City).

79'Post update

Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.

72'Post update

Attempt blocked. Timo Werner (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by César Azpilicueta.

70'goalGoal!

Goal! Manchester City 1, Chelsea 0. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by João Cancelo.

69'Substitution

Substitution, Chelsea. Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Hakim Ziyech.

69'Substitution

Substitution, Chelsea. Timo Werner replaces Christian Pulisic.

68'Post update

Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Phil Foden.

66'Post update

Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Kyle Walker.

66'Post update

Foul by Rodri (Manchester City).

66'Post update

N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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Source: bbc.com

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