Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City reclaimed top spot on the standings, after earning a 4-0 routing of Leeds United at Elland Road in the final match of Saturday’s PL line-up.
The Cityzens wasted little time in getting to work and they duly got the opener in the 13th minute through Rodri, when he connected with Phil Foden’s delightful free-kick. The half ended with Manchester City holding the lead.
Pep Guardiola’s side stepped up the pressure in the second half and were rewarded with a second goal through Dutch international Nathan Ake. Ruben Dias headed a corner into the path of Nathan Ake who converted from close range.
In-form Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus netted the Cityzens third goal of the evening and his sixth goal in his last three games, coolly finishing after receiving an incisive pass from Foden.
Fernandinho then rounded off the scoring with a first-time strike in the final moments as the league leaders maintained their record of winning every PL away game they have scored first in this season – the run now stands at 12 matches. The club skipper also set the record of being the only Brazilian with the most number of appearances in the Premier League with 260 matches.
Leeds United tally of five matches without defeat is now over, but manager Jesse Marsch will be more concerned that they now sit just one place above the relegation zone.
🔴 Live Blog
FULL-TIME AT ELLAND ROAD: Leeds United 0-4 Manchester City
90+3′ MIN: The ball rebounds and arrives at the feet of Fernandinho just outside the box. He doesn’t think twice and fires a brilliant shot into the bottom left corner. His attempt was beyond the reach of goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Leeds United 0-4 Manchester City (Fernandinho)
78′ MIN: Superb work from Phil Foden who plays a vital role in the build-up. He squares it to Gabriel Jesus, who beats Illan Meslier with a brilliant shot into the left side of the net.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Leeds United 3-0 Manchester City (G. Jesus)
54′ MIN: Ruben Dias heads a corner into the path of Nathan Ake who converts from close range.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Leeds United 0-2 Manchester City (N. Ake)
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT ELLAND ROAD: Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City
HALF-TIME AT ELLAND ROAD: Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City
13′ MIN: Phil Foden whips in a free-kick which finds Rodri and in turn heads it in.
GOOOAAALLL!!! Leeds United0-1 Manchester City (Rodri)
KICK-OFF AT ELLAND ROAD: Leeds United 0-0 Manchester City
As for the Cityzens, coach Pep Guardiola has made some alterations to his side – with one eye on their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg tie away to Spanish La Liga outfit Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu next week. Mercurial Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is on the bench alongside Bernardo Silva, while in-form striker Gabriel Jesus, Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling all start for the Cityzens.
Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has made three changes to his line-up as Junior Firpo, Struijk and Koch all start.
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