Kevin De Bruyne brilliance brushes aside Chelsea as Manchester City go 13 points clear Kevin De Bruyne seals victory over second-placed Chelsea with superb solo effort City have recorded 14 wins from their last 15 games in all competitions Chelsea, meanwhile, now have three wins from their last nine Premier League games Into the jaws of the Manchester City possession dictatorship fell even the European champions this time, as disorientated as any opponent to suffer that fate, until the moment arrived for Kevin De Bruyne to score the goal that may draw the line under this season’s title race for good.
What is more, they played against Chelsea like they had never been away. But for the first 10 minutes, when a slip from Stones allowed Romelu Lukaku to power towards goal, the England centre-back did not put a foot wrong. Walker also slotted back in fairly seamlessly. It speaks volumes for the squad’s mental strength and the environment fostered by Guardiola. Not since Sir Alex Ferguson assembled a winning machine at Manchester United has the Premier League had a culture like the one Guardiola has created over a near six-year period with City.
The Chelsea defence reacted to the breach of the line a moment too late and De Bruyne swept a right-foot shot around Kepa Arrizabalaga and inside the Chelsea goalkeeper’s left post. Against his former club in that final in Porto in May, De Bruyne had run into Antonio Rudiger’s unmoving shoulder and paid the price.
Guardiola will want a reaction. In-form players to keep an eye onChelsea goalkeeper Kepa continues to perform well, while Jorginho is doing his best to hold things together in midfield. USMNT star Christian Pulisic is playing well, while Chelsea need Marc Cucurella and Cesar Azpilicueta to step up amid their slew of full back injuries. Man City’s Erling Haaland continues to score goals at an alarming rate as he has 21 so far in the Premier League. Kevin de Bruyne is also looking back to his best and is showing off his class on the ball.
How to watch Chelsea vs Man City - TV channel and live Manchester City return to Premier League action with a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on
Like every side that have lost to City since the start of November, on a run of 12 straight league victories, the ball was never quite Chelsea’s own, the game’s ripples and pulses just out of their grasp. Yet they are supposed to be the nearest challengers to the champions. The second-place side in the Premier League were moved out the way as easily as a plant pot, and could count themselves fortunate that in the end it required the inspiration of De Bruyne to score the goal that decided this match, when there could have been many more. The title race might just be over now: and this lunchtime game had a feel of the end of the carnival. Not only is the gap to Pep Guardiola’s leaders 13 points, the sense of domination is creeping ever higher. Thomas Tuchel’s players had a better second half but by the break they looked bewildered, their German manager outraged at the feebleness of his team’s counter-attacking game. Chelsea have dropped 14 points from their last nine games which suggests that their problem is not just that City are one of the English game’s greatest ever sides.
Chelsea vs Man City LIVE: Premier League rivals look for first Chelsea vs Manchester City: TV channel and live stream. This match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premie