Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea: Pep Guardiola’s side celebrate Premier League title success with win over Blues

Premier League champions Manchester City celebrated in style with a 1-0 win over Chelsea

City dominated the early proceedings, cutting through Chelsea at will and getting into dangerous areas.

Pep Guardiola’s side found the breakthrough after 12 minutes thanks to Julian Alvarez. Cole Palmer burst through the middle before feeding a great pass into Alvarez who calmly brought the ball under his spell before lashing his effort past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Chelsea forced Stefan Ortega into making his first big save after 32 minutes when he extended his arm to push Raheem Sterling’s effort wide of the target.

Five minutes later Frank Lampard’s side went close to an equaliser when Conor Gallagher’s header cannoned off the post.

It was Manchester City’s turn to strike the woodwork in the 57th minute when Kalvin Phillips’ effort rattled the post to deny him what would have been his first goal for City.

City thought they had made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute when Alvarez stroked his effort home but the goal was disallowed for a handball by Riyad Mahrez in the build-up.

Guardiola made several changes late in the game, bringing on the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Erling Haaland but it was City’s supporting cast who got the job done.

TALKING POINT – CITY’S SUPPORTING CAST STAR

Only two players from Manchester City’s semi-final against Real Madrid kept their place in the XI today – Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji. With the Premier League title wrapped up, Guardiola made nine changes and gave a chance to some of the City players who have had limited numbers and the Spaniard will be delighted by the performance of many.

Cole Palmer played the full 90 minutes and put in a terrific performance down the left-hand side; he created chances and looked a constant threat. In Stefan Ortega they have a terrific goalkeeper and a player that would be capable of being the number one at a host of other clubs. The German made six saves, three from shots inside the box and looked assured throughout.

The likes of Rico Lewis, Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden playing in the number 10 role also performed exceptionally. At a club like City who compete on multiple fronts, squad depth is important and a host of players did their chances at gaining more minutes no harm today.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – PHIL FODEN (MANCHESTER CITY)

The 22-year-old shone today playing in the number 10 role. He had attacking freedom to drift left and right and was constantly looking to play passes into attacking areas and get City into Chelsea’s box. He covered more distance than any other player (10.3km) and completed all four of his long passes, most of which were brilliant long switches to advance City up the pitch.

PLAYER RATINGS

Manchester City: Ortega 8, Walker 7, Akanji 7, Laporte 7, Lewis 8, Phillips 7, Gomez 7, Foden 9, Mahrez 7, Alvarez 8, Palmer 7. Subs: Stones 7, Haaland 7, De Bruyne 6, Rodri 6

Chelsea: Kepa 6, Chalobah 6, Silva 7, Fofana 6, Hall 7, Loftus-Cheek 7, Enzo Fernandez 7, Azpilicueta 6, Gallagher 6, Sterling 6, Havertz 6. Subs: Mudryk 6, Madueke 6, Koulibaly 6, Chukwuemeka 6, Pulisic N/A

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

12′ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY – Guardiola’s side take the lead courtesy of Julian Alvarez! Cole Palmer burst through the middle before feeding Alvarez to his right with a great pass, Alvarez brings the ball under his spell before firing it past Kepa.

29′ SO UNLUCKY FROM FODEN! – Phillips plays a wonderful pass to Foden on the right, Foden brings the ball down before trying to clip it into the top corner but it flies just wide of the target.

32′ A GREAT SAVE FROM ORTEGA – Raheem Sterling bursts through with the ball and tries to slide his effort past Ortega but the City keeper gets a hand to it. That’s a huge chance for Chelsea.

37′ OFF THE WOODWORK! – Conor Gallagher sees his effort rattle the post. More encouragement for Chelsea.

57′ PHILLIPS STRIKES THE POST! – Kalvin Phillips hits the post, he is denied what would have been his first City goal!

73′ HANDBALL BY MAHREZ – VAR are looking at a handball from Mahrez in the build-up and this Alvarez ‘goal’ won’t count. Michael Oliver is heading to the monitor but it’s a clear handball and it will be disallowed.

KEY STAT

Manchester City have now won four consecutive matches against Chelsea in the Premier League – all four matches ended 1-0.