For the second time this season Manchester City managed to overcome reigning Premier League champions Chelsea 3-0.
The Sky Blues beat the Londoners by the same score line at the start of the season and the feat was repeated thanks to a hat-trick from their top scorer Sergio Aguero. The result added more misery to an already torrid campaign for the Blues, who are now stuck in no-man’s land as any faint hope of playing in Europe was dented.
While both teams started on the offensive, it did not take too long for City to gain control of the game as they tested Thibaut Courtois on a number of occasions in the first-half. The Belgian custodian did well to keep the score level but could not do much when Aguero’s shot was deflected off Gary Cahill well enough to find the bottom-corner. The Citizens extended their lead further when the Argentine was played in-behind the Chelsea defence and there was never going be a mistake made with the finish, doubling his tally and his sides lead.
As the Blues attempted to salvage something from the game, they pushed forward which meant leaving more gaps at the back. Fernandinho broke extremely well on the counter and was through on goal, only for Courtois to bring him down in the penalty area, subsequently conceding a penalty and receiving his marching orders for the second time this season. Aguero converted the resulting spot-kick to give City another resounding win over the champions.
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Aguero’s form is key until the end of the season
Apart from scoring a hat-trick at the home of the champions and giving their defence an absolute nightmare, it was a normal outing for Aguero. The Argentine has now managed a minimum of 20 league goals for the third time in his five seasons with City. He is on 21 now, only one behind the league’s top scorer in Harry Kane and having played much less football than the England striker this season. There is no doubting that Aguero is one of the finest strikers in Europe, if not the world and there seems to be no stopping the 27-year-old.
While City have benefited hugely from the Argentine’s form this season, there is still one last mountain for them to climb. They made it into the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time ever and apart from making a huge statement in European football, it would also mean so much to everyone at the club if they are to win it. Of course it will not be even a bit of a breeze, as they first have to get past the competition’s 10 time winners – Real Madrid. In around 10 days’ time, City will host the first leg of the semi-final and it will be important that they have all their star players in key touch.
Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and the rest of the midfielders have stepped up their game in recent weeks and with Raheem Sterling likely to return soon, the Citizens midfield looks ready. Vincent Kompany should return to action soon and will surely strengthen the defence. But it has been upfront where City have struggled in the absence of Aguero. They have not nearly scored enough goals as they have in the past and have evidently struggled when he was not in the side. It is very important that City keep Aguero fit until the end of the season, as he will play a vital part in it.
Sergio Aguero has now scored 13 goals in his last 12 Premier League games #MCFC pic.twitter.com/giACgkBMvz
— EPL Stat Man (@EPLStatman) April 16, 2016
League table
The loss for Chelsea did not change their position in the league but surely dampened their spirit and pride, the only thing they had left to play for. The Blues are in 10th spot, well off the race for a spot for a Europa League place and they now will have to make do with competing in only domestic competitions next season. It has been an utterly disappointing campaign for the Londoners, where nothing seems to have gone right for them. The club and its fans will be desperately awaiting for this nightmare of a season to end, as they can then focus on preparing for the next season under the new management of Antonio Conte.
As for City, they seemed to have come out of their recent slump in the league and have now won three games back-to-back for the first time since the fifth week of the season. The triumph put them ahead of Arsenal, who are yet to play this week and within five points of Tottenham. Winning the league is surely out of the question for Pellegrini’s team, but the Chilean will undoubtedly be targeting a top four spot to guarantee Champions League football for incoming manager Pep Guardiola, if they fail to win the tournament this season.
With seven games remaining, we have entered the final stretch and it will be interesting to see how the league table looks come end of the season.
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