Man City keep winning as Gundogan outshines Haaland

MANCHESTER, England — On coronation day in England, Manchester City moved nearer to the Premier League title as they went 4 factors clear on the high of the desk with a 2-1 win over Leeds United.

City warmed up for his or her Champions League journey to Real Madrid on Tuesday with two objectives from Ilkay Gundogan on the Etihad Stadium, though he missed a late penalty that might have accomplished his hat trick after taking the ball from Erling Haaland.

Rodrigo scored 90 seconds after Gundogan’s miss, after a mistake from Manuel Akanji, to make for a nervous last jiffy, however Sam Allardyce’s first recreation in control of Leeds led to defeat. Leeds at the moment are solely exterior the relegation locations on aim distinction with three video games to play.

Rapid response

1. Gundogan double retains City winning

The treble prepare retains rolling on and City at the moment are 9 factors away from winning one other Premier League title. Three wins from their remaining video games in opposition to Everton, Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford will seal a fifth title in six years and financial institution the primary leg of an historic Treble forward of the FA Cup last in opposition to Manchester United on June 3 and a doable Champions League last every week later.

With Arsenal main the way in which within the league for a lot of the marketing campaign, there was a surge of momentum behind City’s quest for silverware lately and victory over Leeds made it 15 wins from their previous 16 video games in all competitions. They have not misplaced a recreation — and even actually been near dropping a recreation — since dropping at Tottenham on Feb. 5.

The newest step towards the title was constructed on two first-half objectives in opposition to Leeds from Gundogan. The German midfielder ghosted into the field twice within the house of 10 minutes to information two well-placed finishes into every nook from Riyad Mahrez’s passes. He made the second-most accomplished passes in a Premier League recreation (170) and managed issues from begin to end, though his penalty miss denied him his first ever senior hat trick.

Gundogan is out of contract on the finish of the season and City will let him make up his personal thoughts about whether or not he needs to remain. There is curiosity from Barcelona and if he leaves, his expertise and sophistication on the ball will likely be an enormous miss for supervisor Pep Guardiola.

2. Guardiola rests key gamers forward of Real Madrid tie

Managers at all times need extra and regardless of some late nerves, Guardiola may be fairly comfortable together with his weekend. City scored early objectives to take the sting out of Leeds’ new supervisor bounce and he was additionally capable of relaxation gamers forward of the Champions League semifinal first leg in opposition to Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Ruben Dias, John Stones, Rodri, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva — all prone to be within the beginning XI in Spain — have been left on the bench whereas Kevin De Bruyne acquired some rhythm again after lacking the final two video games. Nathan Ake acquired extra minutes in his legs after coming back from harm in opposition to West Ham on Wednesday earlier than he was substituted as a precaution early within the second half.

The relaxation for midfielder Rodri, particularly, is much-needed after a season throughout which he has performed extra minutes than some other City participant. Guardiola hasn’t been capable of depend on Kalvin Phillips within the holding midfield function, which implies Rodri has solely failed to begin 4 video games since Oct. 8.

Haaland has, understandably, grabbed the headlines for his goal-scoring this season however there are few gamers extra essential for City than the Spanish midfielder. If they’ll beat Real Madrid over two legs, he’ll should be at his finest in opposition to Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and the remainder.

3. Leeds’ survival relies on Allardyce’s defence

Allardyce’s blueprint for saving a workforce from relegation begins with protecting clear sheets, however he might need his work lower out with Leeds. He inherited a workforce which conceded 23 objectives in seven video games in April — probably the most by a top-flight facet in a single month since Birmingham let in 23 in April 1965 — and Leeds might have been 6-0 down inside half-hour at City.

Gundogan scored twice whereas Haaland and Julian Alvarez each had possibilities that ought to have been taken. Haaland additionally pressured goalkeeper Joel Robles — in for Illan Meslier to make his first Premier League begin since 2017 — into a great save at his close to submit and De Bruyne had a shot cleared off the road.

Lots of groups battle in opposition to City however Allardyce, who was fortunate Haaland had an off day, may have acquired a way in a short time of how a lot work there may be to together with his defence. They have been extra organised after half-time, however the reality is that Leeds most likely weren’t anticipating to get a outcome on the Etihad anyway and their remaining video games in opposition to Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham usually tend to yield the factors wanted to remain up.

The recreation on the London Stadium on May 21 already feels essential with Leeds in determined want of a win from someplace.

Best and worst performers

BEST

Ilkay Gundogan, MF, Man City: Scored twice and accomplished extra passes (92) than Leeds tried (86) within the first half.

Riyad Mahrez, FW, Man City: Started on the proper of City’s entrance three and rolled two excellent passes in to Gundogan for his two objectives.

Aymeric Laporte, DF, Man City: Recalled rather than the rested Dias, he did not put a foot mistaken.

WORST

Patrick Bamford, ST, Leeds: Didn’t see a lot of the ball however misplaced it when he did.

Rasmus Kristensen, DF, Leeds: Leeds did not defend effectively, notably within the first half, and Kristensen regarded shaky.

Wilfried Gnonto, FW, Leeds: Barely had any impression and was substituted earlier than an hour was on the clock.

Highlights and notable moments

Gundogan was readily available to fit residence from Mahrez’s cross, then did the identical factor once more for the second.

Ilkay Gündogan with the primary time end and Manchester City go 4 factors clear on the high of the desk!

📺: @USANetwork | #MCILEE pic.twitter.com/16sH0xdXnL

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 6, 2023

Leeds acquired one again late on, however it wasn’t sufficient.

Leeds have life. 👀

📺 : @USANetwork | #MCILEE pic.twitter.com/cq6wkExMTq

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 6, 2023

After the match: What the managers, gamers mentioned

Leeds boss Sam Allardyce advised the BBC: “We take some hope out of today on the second-half performance. Not the first, but the second. We now need to build on that and try to get a result. I was slightly fearful, but we sorted it out for the second half and told them they were playing with too much fear. They needed to get on the front foot and try to challenge them. Apart from a silly penalty … and a great save by Joel [Robles] that gave us a chance to go up the other end and score. When you see Man City running down the clock for four minutes at the end, you know you have given yourself a chance. We did right until the end, but it didn’t quite happen.”

Manchester City supervisor Pep Guardiola advised the BBC: “We played an exceptional game. Our possession game was really good. First half was exceptional. We were maybe not as clinical as we should be. The second half, we cannot forget it is three games in six days with a lot of mental pressure. After Arsenal we were drained a bit and we kept going against Fulham and West Ham – tough opponents. At the end, the game could be over with the penalty. But they score and we have to suffer. But we played really, really good.”

Guardiola on Gundogan’s penalty miss: “The game is not over. It shows how nice and generous Erling is. If it is 4-0 with 10 minutes left, OK. But at 2-0? Erling is the best penalty taker right now so he has to take it.

“Today Erling might have scored two or three objectives. He performed extremely effectively, in his motion and all the pieces… how he fought for us. I wish to reward Erling when he doesn’t rating. If Gundo scores everyone seems to be ‘OK, hat-trick, effectively accomplished.’ But a taker is a taker. At 2-0, it is a enterprise, not a state of affairs the place we can not overlook it.”

Key stats (offered by ESPN Stats & Information)

– Mahrez has registered 4 assists in his previous three Premier League video games.

– Gundogan scored a number of objectives in a Premier League recreation for the primary time since May 22, 2022 — the ultimate recreation of final season vs. Aston Villa that gained City the title.

– Gundogan accomplished extra passes (92) than Leeds tried within the first half (86).

– Even after Gundogan’s penalty miss, Man City are the one Premier League workforce with hat methods from a number of gamers this season (Haaland 4 occasions; Phil Foden as soon as.)

– Gundogan broke his report for many profitable passes in a Premier League recreation (170). Only Rodri (178) has extra.

– Manchester City are the primary workforce to have a minimum of 80% possession and 90% cross completion in a Premier League match since May 2021 (Man City beat Newcastle 4-3.)

– Manchester City now have a 93.7% probability to win the Premier League and 36.6% probability to win the treble in line with FiveThirtyEight’s SPI.

Up subsequent

Manchester City: A visit to Madrid to face Real within the semifinals of the Champions League on May 9, then they have to journey to relegation-threatened Everton on May 14 within the Premier League.

Leeds United: Their hopes of staying up will relaxation on video games at residence in opposition to Newcastle (May 13), away at West Ham (May 21) after which at residence to Spurs on the ultimate day (May 28.)