[ad_1]
Manchester City did what it wanted: a 26th Premier League win of the season, giving the champions a 1 point lead, with each opponent in the title having six games to play.
Pep Guardiola's team triumphed to victory, although the manager may be unhappy with the many opportunities he missed. Nevertheless, if we take into account the semi-finals of the FA Cup against Brighton Saturday, the manager can be content to have finished the game by resting several players.
Still, Oleksandr Zinchenko was forced to retire and, with already injured Fabian Delph, Guardiola might consider Benjamin Mendy on the left-back for the semi-final. On the Frenchman who was filmed Saturday night at 15:30, Guardiola said: "We will see tomorrow how he trains. Danilo [another option]it's not his natural position. We will see the decision we will make for the Cup. "
Guardiola retained only Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne, Aymeric Laporte and Zinchenko to win at Fulham on Saturday, making seven changes including allowing Phil Foden to make his Premier League debut. Neil Warnock went the other way, retaining everything except Harry Arter – who was replaced by Joe Ralls – after losing to Chelsea on Sunday.
Cardiff was cited as the longest outsider at 30-1 to win this game and in the next six minutes, City explained why. De Bruyne had already opened the visitors from the right – Gabriel Jesus should have scored – as he was gathering to the left and the narrowest angle separating Neil Etheridge's ball. The Cardiff goalkeeper may have been disappointed to concede this position, but for De Bruyne, his first goal in 2019 was a joy.
Against the champions, it was the beginning of the nightmare for the men of Warnock and it was 2-0 if Jesus had anticipated the brilliant pbad of Leroy Sané. He eliminated Etheridge, but the Brazilian was allowed to slide down the field rather than log on. Jesus started his last league game on January 14th and it showed. With a little more clarity, the 22-year-old might also have scored when he received the ball in front of goal; this time he fell on it.
Phil Foden sees his shot blocked by Neil Etheridge, who makes several saves to keep the young player out. Photography: Michael Steele / Getty Images
In the 18th minute, Zinchenko's night was over, which dragged Kyle Walker into the scrum. Jesus did better when he broke up in Cardiff's defense only for Riyad Mahrez to take over and go into the traffic. Guardiola, as he often does, threw his arms in despair. The manager made a similar gesture when Jesus – again – missed out on De Bruyne's withdrawal.
City controlled tightly, but only one was left in front of him as half an hour pbaded and went. Their lack of cruelty continued: both Foden and Sané were aiming at each other and finding their radar across, their efforts missing at once. Foden could however congratulate himself on his creative contribution alongside De Bruyne in central midfield. The 18-year-old orchestrated his performance with smart touches, lively pbades, racing cars and a willingness to go forward first. However, it is Sané who doubled ahead with a fatal end for the first time after Jesus expiated his debauchery by putting the ball on his trajectory.
The round-trip sprint
Manchester City leads Liverpool by one point, but has played one more match – and matches in Europe and the FA Cup could still be a factor
Remaining Liverpool Matches
Apr 5 Southampton (a)
April 9 Porto (h) – CL
April 14 Chelsea (h)
April 17 Porto (a) – CL
April 21 Cardiff (a)
April 26 Huddersfield (h) **
April 30 and May 7 Semi potential CL
May 4 Newcastle (a)
May 12 Wolves (h)
Remaining Manchester City Matches
April 6 Brighton (n) – FA Cup
April 9 Tottenham (a) – CL
April 14 Crystal Palace (a)
April 17 Tottenham (m) – CL
20th of April Tottenham (h)
April 24, Man Utd (a)
April 28 Burnley (a) **
April 30 and May 7 Semi potential CL
May 4 Leicester (h)
May 12 Brighton (a)
** Subject to change based on progress of the Champions League
At the beginning of the second period, the question was whether City would move away from Cardiff as they often do with visiting teams. Laporte was the first to suggest it, the central defender circling the left interior cbad before finding that he lacked support from his teammates. That left Guardiola on Sané and the disappointment was even greater when Fernandinho slipped to Foden, although this time, Etheridge had at least had to make a backup.
Another advantage for Guardiola was the accuracy of De Bruyne in his second game back since his injury. The Belgian was involved in most of the questions that City had asked Cardiff, once by hitting a ball against Fernandinho's head, which the midfielder just did not finish. Laporte was missing his head with a head, not converting Walker's diagonal from the right.
If a man from the city could not find the net, maybe a Cardiff, he could do it: when De Bruyne center left, Sean Morrison nearly stabbed the ball at the near post. Mahrez, Sané and Foden lined up to take shots at goal, but Etheridge made a series of superb saves, and his right post was the case of an Foden attempt that escaped his skin .
Cardiff – briefly – threatened with a shot Oumar Nibade that sparked sarcastic applause from the spectators. Late on the same player ran clear but Ederson saved well. "I do not think they could have given us more," Warnock said of his team.
Source link
