Manchester City took a major step towards retaining their Premier League title with a 1-0 win over second-placed Chelsea on Saturday, giving Pep Guardiola’s side a 13-point lead at the top of the table.
Kevin De Bruyne’s 70th-minute strike means City have 56 points from 22 matches and Chelsea have 43 points. Third-placed Liverpool, who have two games in hand, including Sunday’s match at home to Brentford, are on 42 points.
City extended their winning streak in the league to 12 games, and deservedly did so after another show of football in their controlling possession.
But it was a disappointing effort from Chelsea that has rarely threatened, displaying little ambition and little reaction after De Bruyne’s goal.
Both team line-ups were surprised, with Guardiola leaving central defender Ruben Dias on the bench and Thomas Tuchel making the same choice on midfielder Mason Mount.
After de Bruyne robbed Matteo Kovacic on the edge of the box, Jack Grealish had a hard time getting a chance in the opening 45 minutes with the best chance falling. But Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga did a good job to stop the midfielder’s effort.
Chelsea’s best effort came at the start of the second half when Kovacic fed Romelu Lukaku, but City keeper Ederson put out a fine defense early on.
It was a fine singles goal from De Bruyne that decided the result, with the Belgian riding off a challenge from Ngolo Kante to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga with a curling shot into the far corner.
Phil Foden could have added a second for City six minutes from the end, but his shot was high and wide from a promising position.
“It is always difficult against them. They’re tight defensively, know what they’re doing, and you have to be patient,” De Bruyne said.
“We played the game we needed to play and did what we needed to do,” he said.
Chelsea beat City in last season’s Champions League final, but City completed a double over for London’s side in the Premier League this season, winning 1–0 at Stamford Bridge in September.
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