Chelsea vs. Manchester City: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League Game
Chelsea maintained their five-point lead atop the Premier League table following a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City on Saturday evening.
Playing without the suspended Diego Costa and the injured Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea took the lead through Loic Remy in the 41st minute. But City, who were again without Yaya Toure due to international duty with Ivory Coast, equalised just four minutes later via David Silva.
With the result, Chelsea remained five points clear of City at the top of the table. With 15 matches left in the season, the title race is far from finished, but City might just view Saturday's draw as a missed opportunity.
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Chelsea were potentially vulnerable due to the absences of Costa and Fabregas, while manager Jose Mourinho refused to speak with the media this week due to what he perceived as bias against his team. But City were unable to capitalise, and Manuel Pellegrini's team has now gone three league matches without a win.
The title race continues next Saturday as Chelsea play at Aston Villa, and Manchester City host Hull.
Within moments of the first whistle, City had created the first opening of the match. The visitors moved straight down the pitch, working the ball to Jesus Navas on the right. Navas shot from a difficult angle, drawing a save from Thibaut Courtois.
In the seventh minute, City's Fernandinho saw a cross-shot deflected wide of the far post. Seventeen minutes later, Sergio Aguero forced Courtois into a save with a shot from a tight angle after Branislav Ivanovic was caught in possession.
Chelsea had an opening in the 30th minute as Remy pounced on a Vincent Kompany mistake and burst down the left flank. Remy crossed back into the middle, where Oscar sent a tame shot straight at City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Aguero shot just wide of the target in the 32nd minute, moments after Chelsea had appealed for a penalty at the other end for a handball along the edge of the box.
The breakthrough came in the 41st minute, Chelsea taking the lead following a fine team move. Ivanovic floated a cross over the top to Eden Hazard on the left. Hazard volleyed a cross back into the middle for an unmarked Remy, who slammed in from close range.
Chelsea's lead did not last long. City equalised in the 45th minute with a well-worked move of their own. Bacary Sagna freed Navas with a pass on the right, and Navas' cross evaded everyone in the box, including a flapping Courtois. The ball fell to Aguero, who hit a low shot back into the goalmouth. The ball appeared to be heading wide, but Silva redirected it into the net to level the match heading into half-time.
The second half started quietly with few chances at either end.
In the 56th minute, Fernandinho tested Courtois with an awkward bouncing header that nearly fluttered into the net. Momentarily off his line, Courtois rushed back to tip the ball over.
Nine minutes later, City's James Milner sent a looping header onto the roof of the net from a Navas cross. Courtois then saved a Fernandinho shot in the 69th minute.
As full-time approached, the main drama involved substitutions. Frank Lampard entered in the 77th minute as City searched for a late winner against Lampard's former club.
But despite exerting pressure for most of the final 10 minutes, City were unable to find another goal. In the end, both teams had to settle for a draw and a share of the spoils.
Grades
| Thibaut Courtois | 7.0 |
| Branislav Ivanovic | 6.5 |
| Kurt Zouma | 6.7 |
| John Terry | 6.3 |
| Cesar Azpilicueta | 7.0 |
| Ramires | 7.6 |
| Nemanja Matic | 8.4 |
| Willian | 7.5 |
| Oscar | 6.6 |
| Eden Hazard | 7.2 |
| Loic Remy | 7.4 |
| Didier Drogba (for Willian, 80') | 6.0 |
| Gary Cahill (for Remy, 87') | No rating |
| Ruben Loftus-Cheek (for Oscar, 90') | No rating |
| Joe Hart | 6.0 |
| Bacary Sagna | 6.6 |
| Vincent Kompany | 6.8 |
| Martin Demichelis | 7.0 |
| Gael Clichy | 7.1 |
| Fernando | 6.4 |
| Fernandinho | 7.7 |
| Jesus Navas | 7.5 |
| David Silva | 6.6 |
| James Milner | 7.5 |
| Sergio Aguero | 6.7 |
| Frank Lampard (for Fernando, 77') | 6.1 |
| Edin Dzeko (for Aguero, 84') | No rating |
| Stevan Jovetic (for Silva, 90') | No rating |
Reaction
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini (Sky Sports via BBC Sport):
"We played a very good game. One team wanted to play from the beginning. The only chance Chelsea got they scored a beautiful goal. In the second half Chelsea defended very well, but I am very proud about our team—to have the personality to come here and try to win from first minute to end.
We took the risks and tried to win. I don't want to talk about what Chelsea tried to do. We wanted to win and have the possession. We have to play 45 points more. Chelsea stay five points in front. Maybe they are happy. I am never happy when we drop points.
"
