Pep Guardiola’s team scores an early goal, with <a href="https://time.news/oliver-glasner-is-defeated-by-manchester-city/" title="Oliver Glasner is defeated by Manchester City“>Erling Haaland, misses a good chance, but adds three more crucial points in the fight for the title of the English championship.
how was it
Like a suit, Pep Guardiola Manchester City’s lineup changed. With many absences, the coach tried to rest the players as much as possible, and promoted the returns of Ederson, Rúben Dias, Gvardiol and Kovacic in place of Ortega Moreno, Stones, Again e Gundogan.
On a sunny afternoon in Manchester, at 14ºC, Southampton surprisingly started to control possession a little in the first few minutes, but the first shot came from the home team. After three minutes, Gvardiol took a risk from outside the area, for Ramsdale to defend safely. However, City’s goal was not long in coming.
Soon after, at four minutes, Matheus Nunes He found it deep on the left and crossed into the area. And there he was, Erling Haalandto check the bottom of the net. Despite being dragged by the marker, the number 09 finished the goal for the first time, with his left foot, to open the scoring for City at the Etihad. The centre-forward’s 11th goal in the Premier Division, isolated in the artillery.
In the 12th minute, almost the second goal of the Blues. Matheus Nunesfull of confidence after his last good performance, activated on the left side and attacked Southampton on defense. After freeing himself, he struck from outside the area, with his right foot, but the shot went just over the Ramsdale goalkeeper’s posts.
Even behind on the scoreboard, the position of the visitors on the field was interesting, trying to build in the same way as Manchester City, starting the games with Ramsdale and trying to open spaces in the defense of the hosts. That’s why, in the 22nd minute of the first half, the numbers showed 54% possession of the ball for Southampton, which is very rare in the team’s games. Pep Guardiola.
Little by little, City took control of the game, prowling the Saints area and accumulating successive corners. Even with the pressure, the visiting defense did well, especially on aerial balls, denying Manchester City any real chances. However, Southampton took a lot of risks with the ball, which the Blues often stole, but when it did end up at the back, the final pass lacked that touch.
In the 39th minute, City had another scare. In a good exchange of passes, Gvardiol, the top-scoring defender, received the ball outside the area and took a risk with his right foot, but the shot went wide of goalkeeper Ramsdale’s goal. At 41, in a counterattack, Kovavic got Erling Haaland already close to the area. The center forward dominated, one on one, but the shot was blocked by the defender and came out wide, making it easier for Ramsdale to defend.
At 43, towards the end of the 1st half, Ramsdale finally went back to work. The ball fell to midfielder Kovacic on the edge of the area, who made the perfect shot. The Saints goalkeeper showed a reflex and sent it to a corner, which prevented Manchester City’s second goal. At 46, in stoppage time, Southampton’s first chance. In a quick counter-attack, Archer broke free and came face-to-face with Ederson, but the shot exploded onto the crossbar, in the final action of the first phase before the break.
second half
In the first play of the final stage, almost the second City goal. Savinho he found it in midfield, left the mark absent and passed it to Phil Foden. The number 47 had control, he looked at goal and finished with his left foot, but the ball, very sheepishly, went over Ramsdale’s post.
In the 48th minute, Foden took a free kick and sent it to the head of Guardiol, who put it into the center of the area, looking Erling Haalandbut Southampton’s defense managed to keep the danger at bay. After that, our number 9 got a great cross and took it home. This time, the Saints defender saved on the line.
At 51, Savinho he got to the right, swayed and crossed into the area. The ball went through the entire Southampton defense and found its way Erling Haaland. Almost unmarked, the 09 shirt kicked the ball, with Ramsdale almost beaten, but he put it out, wasting a great chance to add to the score at the Etihad.
Unlike the 1st half, City came back from the break controlling possession, as usual, allowing Southampton a rare breakthrough. At 62 minutes, the duo again Savinho and Haaland looked in danger. The Brazilian crossed with his right foot, but Haaland’s header came out with little force thanks to heavy marking on City’s number 9.
At 72, Phil Foden lined up on the opponent’s marker, but the defense blocked the shot, which could have been a great goal from our number 47. At 74, the Saints were almost level. In a good offensive plan, the ball reached Armstrong, who finished over the crease, in the visitors’ best chance of the game.
In the following minutes, Southampton began to believe a little more in the draw, getting closer to the City area, but not being able to finish as much. Relying on the good momentum of their opponent, the Cityzens fans present at the Etihad started to sing and support even more, in an attempt to give the team that extra boost in the final stretch.
At 86 minutes, the first change of Pep Guardiola. Matheus Nunes left for the entrance of the German Ilkay Gundogan. at 90, Savinhofalling to the left, risked a cross, which hit the post and almost deceived goalkeeper Ramsdale.
In the 93rd minute, Southampton had the first corner of the game. On the stroke, City’s defense ended the danger. And almost at lights out, Phil Foden launched Erling Haalandwho came face to face with Ramsdale. The Comet dug in, but the Saints goalkeeper avoided the City goal. End of the game, zero for City and three very important points in the Premiership!
how is it
With the three points, City remain unbeaten this season, with 10 wins and three draws in 13 games. In the Premier League, the team has a temporary lead, with 23 points. This Sunday (26), Liverpool, in second place with 21, visit Arsenal in London.
the next game
Next week, City have two commitments. On Wednesday (30), we traveled to London to face Tottenham, in a match valid for the round of 16 of the English League Cup (Carabao Cup). Whoever wins, qualifies. The ball rolls in the English capital at 8:15pm (Portugal), 5:15pm (Brazil). On Saturday, November 2, we face Bournemouth, also away, in the 10th round of the Premier League.
lineups
City: Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Nunes, Savinhothe foot e Erling Haaland.
Reserves: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Stones, Again, GundoganO’Reilly and McAtee.
SOUTHAMPTON: Ramsdale, Walker-Peters, Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Manning, Downes, Lallana, Fernandes, Dibling and Archer.
Reserves: McCarthy, Bree, Sugawara, Ugochukwu, Aribo, Cornet, Kamaldeen, Armstrong and Onuachu.
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