Man Metropolis have stored a clear sheet of their final 5 away Premier League matches; their longest ever run of consecutive away league clear sheets
Man Metropolis have stored a clear sheet of their final 5 away Premier League matches; their longest ever run of consecutive away league clear sheets
Manchester Metropolis returned to the highest of the Premier League after thumping Leeds United 4-0 at Elland Street on Saturday to steer the desk by one level, though the reigning champions have been made to work tougher than the scoreline advised.
Liverpool had regained high spot earlier within the day with a 1-0 win at Newcastle United, placing stress on Metropolis to reply towards a Leeds aspect battling to keep away from relegation.
An early purpose settled Metropolis’s nerves, with Spanish midfielder Rodri glancing a header into the online to present the guests the lead with 13 minutes on the clock.
Leeds stored the stress up, with a raucous crowd doing all the things of their energy to make life troublesome for Metropolis, however Nathan Ake’s purpose within the 54th minute successfully ended any hope the house followers had of getting something from the match.
Leeds continued to overlook possibilities earlier than Metropolis put the sport to mattress 12 minutes from time as Gabriel Jesus continued his nice kind in entrance of purpose with one other strike earlier than Fernandinho put the icing on the cake with a stoppage-time fourth.
Metropolis’s fourth win in a row in all competitions put them again on the high on 83 factors from 34 video games forward of second-placed Liverpool, whereas Leeds slipped to seventeenth, 5 factors above the drop zone however having performed two extra video games than Everton in 18th.
“We knew coming right here the best way they play, we suffered quite a bit within the first half,” Guardiola mentioned. “However ultimately we had management and will have scored extra. An unimaginable consequence for us.
“They’re so quick up entrance. We defended effectively and typically in these sort of video games set items change into so vital. At this time was so vital to make our possibilities to be champions once more.”
CITY MAKE FIVE CHANGES WITH REAL MADRID IN MIND
On paper Leeds seemed up towards it, taking up a Metropolis aspect who travelled to Yorkshire unbeaten away within the league since a 1-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur on the opening weekend, having been thrashed 7-0 within the reverse fixture early within the season.
However with Metropolis boss Pep Guardiola making 5 modifications to his aspect with Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final, second-leg conflict at Actual Madrid in thoughts, which they may begin with a 4-3 lead, the guests seemed just a little disjointed from the off.
After surviving early stress from the hosts, Rodri timed his run to perfection to get on the tip of Ilkay Gundogan’s free-kick and break the impasse. It was Metropolis’s seventeenth purpose from a set piece this time period – greater than every other Premier League aspect.
The champions continued to misplace passes to present Leeds loads of moments of promise, however poor ending and a wayward last cross meant the house aspect couldn’t capitalise.
Metropolis continued to look nervy after the break however Leeds nonetheless lacked that killer intuition with one other purpose from a nook, this time stabbed house by Ake, punishing the profligate hosts.
Jesus’ strike within the 78th minute – his sixth in his final three video games in all competitions – meant Metropolis may chill out with their return leg at Actual to come back in midweek, protected within the data they continue to be the workforce to catch within the Premier League.
A uncommon purpose from Fernandinho, who drilled the ball house from the sting of the field late on, accomplished an ideal afternoon for the defending champions towards a aspect who will marvel how they got here away having been overwhelmed so comprehensively.
“The consequence was worse than we hoped however the efficiency was higher,” mentioned Leeds coach Jesse Marsch. “We performed with confidence. It didn’t really feel like a 4-0 match.
“We had momentum and managed their actions. It’s disappointing to lose so huge however even the followers and the best way they responded after the sport is a mirrored image of what the efficiency was.”
