Despite the scoreline, Manchester City dominated Chelsea on Saturday in Premier League action, winning the rematch of the Champions League final, 1-0. It was a display where City looked like the only team capable of taking something from this match, recording 15 shots and an expected goal (xG) total of 1.45, while the Blues had only five shots and could barely sniff out a decent look, finishing with an xG of 0.22.
The victory, combined with Manchester United’s shock loss to Aston Villa, moves the team temporarily into a tie for first place with Chelsea and Liverpool. The Reds travel to Brentford later on Saturday.
Chelsea’s star striker, Romelu Lukaku, was largely neutralized, having just 21 touches and not a single shot as Ruben Dias was all over him for most of the match. City’s efficient passing, completing 88.1 percent of them, helped them keep the ball away from Chelsea, escape pressure and get forward time and time again.
The winning goal came from a short corner early in the second half, with Gabriel Jesus doing brilliantly in the box to turn and fire off a shot into the left side of the goal:
Two golden chances late via Aymeric Laporte and Jack Grealish could have put the nail in the coffin, but neither could kill off the match, giving the Blues a window to equalize, though they never felt remotely close.
With the win, City have passed their first test in what’s a brutal three-match stretch. After going to PSG on Tuesday in the Champions League, they’ll host Liverpool in Premier League action next weekend.
