Chelsea couldn’t capitalize on their strong start at the Etihad as Manchester City came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory. The Blues took an early lead just over two minutes into the match, with Nicolas Jackson setting up Noni Madueke for a simple finish. Chelsea created several more opportunities in the first half, but Josko Gvardiol’s impressive equalizer just before the break leveled the score. Erling Haaland then put City ahead with 22 minutes remaining, and Phil Foden sealed the win late on as Chelsea pushed for an equalizer.
Team Changes
Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez made their return from injury for Chelsea, with Jadon Sancho also coming into the starting lineup. Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Pedro Neto were all dropped to the bench.
This change saw three Academy graduates in Chelsea’s defense, with Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, and Colwill joining Marc Cucurella in front of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Enzo joined Moises Caicedo in midfield, with Cole Palmer, Madueke, and Sancho supporting Jackson in the attack.
The first ten minutes of the game were intense and fast-paced.
A Dynamic Opening to the Match
Credit:mancity.com
City’s new signing, Omar Marmoush, tested Robert Sanchez early with a powerful shot in the first minute, though the offside flag was raised. Chelsea then took the lead just over two minutes into the match.
As he has done since his arrival in the summer of 2023, Nicolas Jackson applied relentless pressure on the opposition defense. He challenged City’s new recruit, Abdukodir Khusanov, in the air. When the hosts tried to head the ball back to goalkeeper Ederson, Jackson intercepted and laid it off to the unmarked Noni Madueke, who calmly slotted it into the empty net.
James fired a dangerous free-kick wide of the goal before Chelsea nearly doubled their lead in the ninth minute. Palmer was put through on goal, but as a recovering defender closed in, the former City player attempted to square the ball to Jackson. However, his right-footed pass was slightly too far ahead of the striker. Jackson pulled the ball back, but Sancho’s close-range shot was blocked. City responded immediately, launching an attack at the other end. They could have equalized had it not been for a crucial last-ditch block by Chalobah. The chances continued to come thick and fast. Foden unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, only to see it strike the post. A Sancho cross was also narrowly intercepted by a City defender. The hosts went on a positive run of play, with Gvardiol nearly setting up a sliding Marmoush in the box.
Moments later, Gvardiol fired over the bar from eight yards after cutting inside Madueke.
Chelsea, however, continued to look dangerous. Palmer cut inside his marker and struck a powerful shot, which was deflected into Ederson’s arms. Jackson also had an opportunity when through on goal, but his shot was saved, though the offside flag had already been. The offside flag at each end continued to be raised at key times as Chelsea were grateful to see it go up when Ilkay Gundogan’s shot was fumbled into the path of Marmoush to score, as his potential debut goal was ruled out.
City Strikes Back
Gvardiol, who had been a constant threat from left-back, made another driving run forward, which led to the equalizer. Sanchez did well to rush out and block a one-on-one chance from Matheus Nunes, but the ball spilled to Gvardiol, who tapped it home to level the score.
The first half ended much like it began, with Chelsea creating an attack. Some neat build-up play saw Madueke cut inside and fire over the bar from 20 yards.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued into the second half. Chelsea had an early attack where Enzo nearly got a shot away, but City countered, and Sanchez parried Haaland’s effort. Chelsea quickly responded, with Cucurella firing over the bar from close range following a pull-back by Sancho.
Another swift Blues counter-attack saw Jackson have a shot saved. That would be Jackson’s last involvement in the match as Christopher Nkunku came on for the final 30 minutes, as Chelsea chased a winner.
City Surges Ahead with Haaland’s Goal
Haaland’s influence grew in the second half. After receiving a long ball forward, the striker spun just outside the box and curled the ball over Sanchez, who had started to come off his line to intercept the pass, making it 2-1 to City. Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto were then introduced as Maresca searched for the equalizer, with James and Sancho making way.
However, after City’s second goal, the flow of chances slowed significantly. The hosts became more solid defensively, making it increasingly difficult for Chelsea to break them down.
Current League Standings and Team Positions
The Blues continued to search for a way back into the game and City managed to grab a third on the counter with three minutes of normal time remaining when Foden was put through one-on-one and coolly slotted into the bottom corner. Chelsea kept going, and Madueke flashed a shot across the face of the goal as we entered injury-time before Colwill fired over from close range, but the game ended 3-1. The Blues had entered the weekend fourth in the table but following Newcastle United’s 3-1 win over Southampton earlier in the day, we started the match fifth, with City two points behind us in seventh.
Today’s result means we are now in sixth but just one point below City in fourth and Newcastle in fifth, with only four points separating us and Nottingham Forest in third.
Chelsea’s Bright Start Dims-Manchester City Pulls Away 3-1
Credit:google.com
Chelsea: Sanchez; James (c) (Gusto 73), Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho (Neto 73); Jackson (Nkunku 61)
Subs not used: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Disasi, Tosin, Dewsbury-Hall, Guiu
Bookings: Colwill 25, Caicedo 58
Scorer: Madueke 3
Man City: Ederson, Nunes, Khusanov (Stones 53), Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo (c), Marmoush (De Bruyne 73), Foden, Haaland
Subs not used: Ortega, Grealish, Reis, Savio, O’Reilly, Lewis, McAtee
Bookings: Khusanov 4, Bernardo 79, Kovacic 83
Scorer: Gvardiol 42, Haaland 68, Foden 87
Chelsea now have a nine-day wait until their next match, as they prepare to host London rivals West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on Monday, January 3.
Leave a comment