Our prediction for the match was a 1-1 draw but it has not come to that and Chelsea are the guilty party here. Toothless and dull in attack, they found it hard to break down Manchester City at Stamford Bridge of all places. City sit atop the table having scored 1 goal more than their Manchester rivals who pulled off yet another 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
But it was pure tactical brilliance from Pep tonight. When City shut shop, they shut shop for good. Chelsea's attacks were all nullified and they stretched them to the point Chelsea were constantly defending with 5 men at the back with Kante and Bakayoko helping out in the centre. To add salt to the wounds, Morata had to limp off after feeling his hamstring. Conte's men will hope that it doesn't keep Morata sidelined for a long time because boy, did they miss him!
Once again it was the Kevin De Bruyne who made the difference. Oh, Chelsea, why did you ever let the lad leave? With a scintillating strike, that too with his weaker foot, he found a way past the giant Courtois who hurled himself in the air in vain.
And that's that from Stamford Bridge. Signing off, yours truly, Shambhu Ajith. You can give me a piece of your mind if I've been as dull as Chelsea tonight, on Twitter- @goddamnhunter
91' Chance for Chelsea! Cleared. Kante feeds one to Alonso on the left. Gets it back and sends it to Rudiger. Willian receives it. Willian passes it to Azpilicueta. Azpilicueta's cross is cleared for a corner!
Great leap from Christensen but his header was nowhere near that level. Fabregas whips it in from the right flank off a set-piece. Christensen should have done better after doing so well to climb and meet the ball in the air.
87' Chelsea are in a hurry now. Took them a while. A long speculative ball is floated into the City half for Pedro to chase but Ederson sweeps well and comes charging out of the box to deal with the danger.
86' Silva tries to put a ball in the corridor of uncertainty from the left flank. But no one's there and Alonso heads it away for a corner. The corner is floated into the box by De Bruyne but Fernandinho's header is tame and Ederson gathers comfortably.
First contribution from Gundogan- a sweet through ball to Sterling on the right flank. He cuts it back for Jesus who takes it on the full and connects ever so sweetly but his curler which was headed for the top right corner is headed away by Antonio Rudiger. Chelsea are still in it.
79' It's City with the industry and the enterprise once again. But they still can't inspire a moment of incisive magic and the Chelsea box has still not been ploughed. It wasn't for De Bruyne's goal either. That's all the credit Chelsea are going to get tonight if this is how we end the night.
77' Another chance goes begging for Chelsea! Willian mails it across to Alonso on the left flank. He turns around and sends the ball back to the centre. Azpilicueta is freed up on the right flank on the edge of the box. But his cross is uncharacteristically poor and Ederson plucks it out of the air with ease.
76' Willian frees up Alonso down the left flank. Alonso delivers a good, low ball into the box but Pedro optimistically backheels it to the penalty spot in search of a unicorn! There was no one there.
73' Finally, some threat from Chelsea! Willian frees up Azpilicueta on the wing who whips one in first time. Batshuayi was waiting but Otamendi clears it away for a corner. Nothing comes from that though. Chelsea will need to show up and deliver in the final third now. They've been tepid so far.
72' Pedro comes in for Hazard! Batshuayi in for Bakayoko! Hazard hasn't been anywhere near his best but special players produce special moments and Chelsea fans would have ideally wanted the Belgian to stay. However, it's not going to be Hazard's night at the Stamford Bridge. Because Antonio Conte says so.
69' City have scored like they've done throughout this campaign so far. Now Chelsea have a problem on their hands. They are going to have to break a resilient City defence if they're to conjure up even a point from this battle.
All KEVIN DE BRUYNE THERE! Silva does a give and go but he doesn't need to be used. De Bruyne takes 3 defenders on and drives ahead to the edge of the box and belts one into the right top corner with his left foot. What a player. Of course he was going to be the difference.
65' OH SILVA OH! 2 times in a minute! Silva frees up Sterling on the right flank. The first time, he cuts it back to Silva and Silva checks himself before unleashing a shot. But Christensen intervenes with a great tackle. The second time though, nobody gets to the end of a Sterling low-cross after Silva once again frees him up!
64' De Bruyne with a vicious ball in! Jesus can't connect, angle was too hard anyway! City trying to work the width. From left flank to the right. De Bruyne whips another low cross in but jesus can't connect.
Fabregas strokes it to Hazard who charges into the box but he decides to shoot and not cross. Ederson parries it away. It was always going to be saved though.
56' Chelsea are pressing higher in the second half. And City will try to exploit that. They have been unsuccessful so far but football is a game of 90 mins, innit?
55' Manchester City starting to threaten. But for all their efforts, they still can't find a free man in a dangerous area and Chelsea deal with it well.
53' Sane steps on the gas. He cuts in from the right and does a one-two with Silva but Silva's ball is a little too heavy. Cleared away. Corner for City.
48' Chance for City! Corner! Delph with a very good ball to Silva who lays it off to Sterling on the wing. But Sterling's cross gets cut out and sent for a corner. Off the corner, Leroy Sane tries to get rid of a couple of Chelsea defenders with his trickery but there's just too much traffic to wriggle out of.
45+2' PEEEEEEEP! GOALLESS HALF! It is halftime. It remains 0-0.
Manchester City have had the better chances but Chelsea are not too far behind. Let's hope the PEP talk at halftime inspires some magic. Who doesn't like magic?
43' CLOSE! COURTOIS WITH A GOOD SAVE! De Bruyne puts the ball into the box from a corner. But a sweet header is well negotiated with and the score remains 0-0.
40' Close from City! Sane to Delph on the left flank. Delph pets it to De Bruyne who gives it to Sterling and gets it back. He then floats one into the box where Jesus tries to flick it on but Sane didn't arrive on time.
37' De Bruyne brings Willian down on the left flank. Good position for Chelsea to get a cross in from the set piece. And Willian is right there! Good timing.
33' Trouble for Chelsea! MORATA is struggling. He is getting subbed! WILLIAN comes on! He is feeling his hamstring and is walking away from the ground. That is so heartbreaking for the Chelsea fans especially on such an important night! Willian is on. That's no downgrade anyway. Will Chelsea miss Morata in front of goal? Only time will tell. Well, like an hour of it.
SHARE
