2023/24
Matchweek 25
All times shown are your local time
Sat 17 Feb 2024
Kick Off:
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Att: 53,509
Ref: Andy Madley

WHO'S GOING TO BE YOUR

MAN OF THE MATCH?

Report

Manchester City fell behind in the title race when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea. 

Raheem Sterling got on the scoresheet against his former side and Chelsea, after missing several chances to double their lead, conceded a late equaliser to Rodri. 

It means that after victories for Liverpool and Arsenal earlier in the day, City drop to third, four points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a match fewer.

How the match unfolded

Both managers made two changes. Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker replaced Matheus Nunes and John Stones for City, while Levi Colwill and Sterling came in for Thiago Silva and Noni Madueke for Chelsea.

Erling Haaland missed a great chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute but headed over Julian Alvarez’s cross.

Nicolas Jackson then had a better chance for Chelsea 10 minutes later when Malo Gusto sent in a low cross, but the striker’s first touch was poor and Ederson collected the loose ball.

Chelsea managed to break the deadlock three minutes before half-time in similar fashion to Jackson’s miss. Jackson this time sprinted down the right before squaring the ball to Sterling, who cut inside past Walker and found the far corner against his former side.

Jackson almost turned the ball into his own net soon after from a corner, but Axel Disasi was on hand to clear the ball off the line. It meant that City trailed at home at half-time for the first time in 13 months.

De Bruyne went close for City very early in the second half, but his free-kick whistled over the bar.

Chelsea were also a threat and a well-worked move had Gusto sliding the ball across the six-yard box, but Sterling saw his shot saved well by Ederson, who did well to stop Ben Chilwell’s follow-up shot with his legs.

City started to lay siege to the Chelsea goal and Haaland saw a close-range shot blocked by Levi Colwill.

Then Djordje Petrovic made a brilliant save at his near post to keep out Haaland after his strike was deflected by Disasi. It was Haaland’s seventh shot of the match, his most in a Premier League fixture without scoring from one of them.

Chelsea then broke down the right again and Gallagher set up Christopher Nkunku but the substitute’s shot was blocked before Jackson and Enzo Fernandez got in each other’s way with the follow-up.

Guardiola had his head in his hands after Haaland squandered another great chance. De Bruyne found his team-mate with a brilliant left-footed cross, but Haaland’s header from eight yards inexplicably went over.

In total the Norwegian had 10 shots in the match, the most he has had in a Premier League fixture.

But City’s constant pressure paid off as Rodri, once more, came up clutch with their 27th shot. 

After Kyle Walker’s effort had been blocked, the ball fell to the Spaniard and his powerful drive from just inside the area was deflected past Petrovic in the 83rd minute.

City pushed for a winner and appealed for a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time after the ball struck the arm of Colwill, but it was not given after a VAR check.

Chelsea return to 10th on 35 points after Wolverhampton Wanderers briefly overtook them earlier in the day.

Club reports

Man City report | Chelsea report

Match officials

Referee: Andy Madley (pictured). Assistants: Marc Perry, Nick Hopton. Fourth official: Keith Stroud. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin.

Show All

Club Reports

Match officials

Referee: Andy Madley

Fourth Official: Keith Stroud

VAR: Peter Bankes

Assistant VAR: Ian Hussin

Match related content will appear here

      Season So Far

      Man City
       
      Chelsea

      Top Player Stats

        Match Stats

        Man City
         
        Chelsea

        Head-to-Head

        Man City
        Total Wins
        18
        Home
        11
        Away
        7
        Chelsea
        Total Wins
        27
        Home
        14
        Away
        13

        Played

        54

        Draws 9

        Recent Meetings