Manchester City won today away from Chelsea. Riyad Mahrez scored within three minutes of coming on as the champions moved to within five points of the leaders Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s side was clearly superior in the second half, after a balanced first half, in which they felt great difficulties in breaking Chelsea’s defensive organization.
But a “wing blow” by the Catalan coach allowed to unbalance the defense with two players who launched three minutes earlier.
The two players who conceived the goal, in the 63rd minute, were the same ones that Guardiola brought on in the 60th, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez, for Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden to leave.
The English winger Foden made an excellent cross that allowed the Algerian international to touch the back of the net to the second post.
Moreover, Guardiola had already shown his displeasure at half-time, when he left Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo, who played in the four of the midfield, on the right, in the booths to launch the Swiss central Manuel Akanji and the young Rico Lewis.
It should be recognised that Chelsea coach Graham Potter suffered two setbacks in the early stages of the match, with injuries to Raheem Sterling in the fifth minute and to American striker Christian Pulisic, forcing him to change the team early, with Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Carney Chukwuemeka.
Silva and Cancelo were in the starting line-up, substituted during the game, their compatriot Ruben Dias was not called up because he was suffering from a muscle injury, contracted while playing for the Portuguese national team in the World Cup in Qatar.
City’s win cut the gap between them and the leader Arsenal, who tied without scoring in this round’s welcome to Newcastle, to five points.
