Premier League: Erling Haaland spearheaded Manchester City’s resurgence from a goal down to secure a 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday, propelling the reigning champions into the Premier League’s top four at Chelsea’s expense.
Premier League: City endured a rocky start when debutant Abdukodir Khusanov’s error gifted Chelsea an early lead through Noni Madueke.
However, Josko Gvardiol equalized before Haaland showcased his brilliance with a stunning chip to give City the lead.
The Norwegian later set up Phil Foden for the decisive third goal, sealing City’s fourth win in five league matches.
Premier League: Chelsea, now winless in six of their last seven league games, fell to sixth place. Questions arose again about goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose positioning contributed to Haaland’s crucial goal.
City’s win bolsters their bid for Champions League qualification, just days ahead of a must-win clash against Club Brugge in the current campaign.
Match Highlights:
- Early Setback: Khusanov’s miscalculated header allowed Chelsea to strike first as Madueke tapped in Nicolas Jackson’s assist within three minutes.
- Gvardiol’s Equalizer: The Croatian defender capitalized on Matheus Nunes’ rebound to score his fifth Premier League goal just before halftime.
- Haaland’s Magic: In the 68th minute, Haaland outmuscled Trevoh Chalobah and chipped Sanchez, taking his season tally to 24 goals.
- Foden Finishes: Haaland’s layoff set up Foden for his sixth goal in four league games, securing the victory.
Chelsea’s defensive lapses, combined with Khusanov’s rough debut, underscored their struggles, while City’s key players shone brightly, particularly Haaland and Gvardiol.
City will now aim to carry this momentum into their crucial Champions League tie, while Chelsea must regroup to arrest their slide down the table.