Rodri’s late goal saved a point for Manchester City, who saw the end of their 11-game winning streak and catbird seat status in the Premier League title race with a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City beat Copenhagen on Tuesday in the first leg of a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie, producing a fourth-straight multi-goal win across all competitions, and was poised to keep its place as the Premier League points-per-game leaders with a win over Chelsea.
WATCH MANCHESTER CITY vs CHELSEA FULL MATCH REPLAY
But former City star Raheem Sterling put City ahead and the three-time defending Premier League champions could only manage Rodri’s late goal despite a 32-9 advantage in shot attempts, 70% possession, and a 3.07-1.58 xG separation.
City’s now four points back of Liverpool and two behind Arsenal before playing their match-in-hand on both this Tuesday versus Brentford.
Chelsea keeps 10th place on the table and good vibes heading into next weekend’s League Cup Final versus Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. The Blues are unbeaten in three matches across all competitions. They’ll become one of the “match-in-hand” clubs next as their meeting with Spurs is being rescheduled due to the League Cup Final.
Controversy at the final whistle of engrossing match
From the rain to the speed of ball movement, this match had a bit of everything.
That includes controversy, as Man City were denied a last-gasp penalty as VAR determined that Levi Colwill’s double elbow of the ball was not deliberate deep in stoppage time.
The ball was bounding around when it connected with Colwill’s elbow, in tight enough to his body, the first time. But subsequent replays appeared to show Colwill subtly but deliberately elbowing the ball free a second time. Ruben Dias also visibly had his shirt pulled, but....
It wasn’t enough for VAR, and City’s 32 shots did not become 33 with a chance at the spot. It would’ve been a tough pill for Chelsea to swallow given their resolute display on the day, but should it have been a penalty? We lean 60-40 yes.
What’s next?
City play their “match-in-hand” on Tuesday when Brentford come to the Etihad Stadium at 2:30pm ET, then it’s a visit to Bournemouth at 12:30pm Saturday.
Chelsea turn its attention to the League Cup Final versus Liverpool versus Liverpool a week from Sunday (Feb. 25) at 10am.
How to watch Manchester City vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kickoff: 12:30pm ET Saturday
TV Channel: NBC
Stream: Online via Premier League on Peaco*ck
Manchester City vs Chelsea live updates as they happened - By Nick Mendola
Manchester City vs Chelsea final score: 1-1
Goals: Sterling (42'), Rodri (83')
Manchester City vs Chelsea player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Chelsea player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Rodri levels! — Man City 1-1 Chelsea (82nd minute)
A blocked Man City shot, somewhere shy of their 100000th millionth attempt of the half, bounds out towards Rodri.
He tears into the half-volley and it’s headed inside the near post even before it turns off Axel Disasi.
Earned. Well-earned.
Haaland just misses equalizer
Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling together come together in the box and Walker thinks he’s won a penalty. It goes the other way.
City’s next possession involves a break and a waist-level cross for Erling Haaland.
He leaps and... can’t turn it on goal, missing wide of the post by a yard or two.
Sterling puts Blues ahead of old mates — Man City 0-1 Chelsea (42nd minute)
Nicolas Jackson chops a cross behind the City back line and Raheem Sterling is onto it.
The longtime City hero cuts past Kyle Walker to set up a shot that beats Ederson. 1-0 to Chelsea!
Sterling curls Chelsea in front of Man City
Chelsea strikes first as Raheem Sterling takes his time to beat Ederson and give the Blues a 1-0 lead over Manchester City at the Etihad.
Flubbed chances at both ends
Nicolas Jackson is on the doorstep off a Chelsea break but he needs an extra touch at full speed and cannot beat Ederson in what Mauricio Pochettino would’ve been expecting as a goal.
At the other end, Kevin De Bruyne leads a rush but Erling Haaland is a little too cheeky with his pass in the box and it leads to a fruitless corner.
Manchester City lineup
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 17, 2024Your squad to face Chelsea! 👊
XI | Ederson, Walker (C), Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Foden, Alvarez, Doku, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Stones, Kovacic, Bernardo, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Susoho, Lewis#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/ch1iVE6nqN
Chelsea lineup
Good to go! ✔️📋@ParimatchUK | #CFC | #MciChe pic.twitter.com/0ImaiQXvKv
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 17, 2024
Manchester City focus, team news
Erling Haaland is very much back in form and so is Kevin De Bruyne, as two of the world’s best players are both fit and firing for the first time this season.
OUT: Jack Grealish (leg), Josko Gvardiol (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Bernardo Silva (ankle), Sergio Gomez (undisclosed)
Chelsea focus, team news
Conor Gallagher is one of the players dragging Chelsea forward through stubbornness and technique, ironic in that he hasn’t agreed terms on a new deal with the club.
OUT: Romeo Lavia (thigh), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Reece James (thigh), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Thiago Silva (groin), Robert Sanchez (knee), Carney Chukwuemeka (ankle)
