David Luiz ends Manchester City’s 21 games unbeaten streak

When the story is told of the 2018-19 season, it will be an oddity that the heavyweight contest - the champions versus the champions, according to the television blurb, yielded highly contrasting results. Maurizio Sarri, claiming Pep Guardiola to be “the best in the world” had not defeated the latter until the 8th of December 2018, which saw City’s 21 games unbeaten record getting shattered.

Exactly two weeks back, David Luiz attracted a wide range of criticism for moving out of the way of Kane’s shot at Wembley. But, now he claims the man of the match award for setting everything in motion with an exquisite long ball resulting in Chelsea’s opener and then drilling the final nail in the coffin himself to seal a memorable victory over the champions.

With Sergio Aguero out injured and Morata going through a lean patch, both managers set out without a recognized number nine. While the former eventually was badly missed, the formation served Chelsea quite well.

But, with both teams rich in both pace and movement, Stamford Bridge was geared up for an exciting 90 minutes. And, rightly so, the visitors were off to a blazing start with Leroy Sane increasingly spreading anxiety among the Chelsea defense and Raheem Sterling, through the middle, always running at them.

The new formation almost paid dividends if Sterling had gotten a stronger connection to Sane’s cross after Jorginho was dispossessed by Fernandinho. Chelsea were evidently wilting in the face of City’s firepower and desperately unable to get the ball moving. They were forced to spend time passing the ball around their defence, often at little more than walking pace.

But, what they did well and throughout the match, was defend in numbers, being a lot more resolute as compared to against Spurs.

Sane, too got the opportunity to get the scoreboard moving, but delayed setting himself up to allow Chelsea clutter the box with bodies. Chelsea today stood out for the determination in their heart and fire in their eyes, the tenacity and doggedness displayed, but above all, their willingness to try and close everything down.

In fairness, Hazard deployed as a false-nine and often dropping deep with City’s players, for long spells, operating higher up the pitch meant the Blues could seize an iron grip on midfield. Scuttling with energy, considered to be one of the best midfield trios, was highly instrumental in helping Chelsea slowly and eventually get to grips with Guardiola’s 4-3-3 formation.

Kovacic, who had a premature ending to his game after the hour mark, was enriched with bewitching skills and seemed to replicate otherwise Hazard’s play-making role. Coupling to it the uber-increasing stamina of Kante and Jorginho’s slick passing.

There was nothing revolutionary about the home team’s tactics. They were efficient in their simplicity, hunting in packs as they sought to make up for midweek’s meek defeat to Wolves, although there was much to admire about Luiz’s long ball that led to N’Golo Kante breaking the deadlock on the cusp of halftime.

A diagonal ball arrowing through the night sky to find Pedro on the right seemed to catch Delph by surprise, then the Spaniard’s delivery prefacing Willian cutting in from the left and City being unable to clear their lines meant the ball eventually came to Hazard who then beautifully laid it for Kante to come charging in and let fly with an elegant swish of his right boot to make City go one goal down at half-time for the first time in over a year.

Despite, being assigned an advanced role, the phrase “N’Golo Kante is everywhere” from the title-winning 2016-17 season, came back to haunt Pep’s side as that is literally what the Frenchman was seen doing. In one instant, he was seen running at Aymeric Laporte and then next moment, throwing his body in to block David Silva’s shot.

If you’re talking about defending, especially after tonight’s game, you just cannot ignore Cesar Azpilicueta. Though Luiz bagged the trophy, the Chelsea skipper toiled hard to negate Sane and then Sterling’s threat, and indeed passed with flying colors. He is happy to feed a cross to the winger and then scurry upfield in support to collect a return. Also, he can track-back to the byline with equal intensity and then pull out a clean tackle to deny a cross being dispatched.

Marcos Alonso too, who had a rare off day against Wolves, was light on his feet, rampaging up and down the flanks and ready to take everything head-on. Chelsea drummed up-tempo to their play after the break and it could be seen in the way both Pedro and Willian, sniffing the slightest of opportunities, were up and running, though Ederson was largely underemployed.

One of the talking points of the game- did Barkley’s driven shot scuff of Mahrez’s boot? While referee Michael Oliver immediately pointed to the corner, Pep and Guardiola and Ederson, who let the ball go behind were convinced it didn’t. Nevertheless, the outstanding David Luiz lost his marker and rose above Fernandinho to meet with Hazard’s corner and angle in a looping header veering beyond the keeper into the far corner.

City would definitely be rueing the number of chances they passed up, but it was Chelsea who availed two that came their way and roadblock this mighty juggernaut who were beaten in the League for the first time since 7th of April this year.