Man City easily beat Sheffield 2-0 in round 20 of the Premier League, temporarily narrowing the gap with top team Liverpool to two points.
The most successful year in Man City's history ended with a comfortable victory at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola's team did not lose a single home game in 2023 and won five trophies, including the Champions League. The win over Sheffield also showed positive signs for the new year. Man City kept their first clean sheet in nine games and welcomed back Kevin De Bruyne after more than four months.
Rodri (No. 16) celebrates the opening goal at Etihad Stadium on December 30. Photo: Reuters
The most exciting moment in the stadium was not the goals. It was De Bruyne warming up on the touchline, in his first appearance in the squad in 27 games. According to Guardiola, the midfielder, who has just recovered from hamstring surgery, is expected to play against Huddersfield in the FA Cup on January 7.
Without De Bruyne and Erling Haaland on the pitch, Man City were still too strong for Sheffield. The home team had 82% possession in each half and almost did not allow their opponents to play the ball. Although they did not create many clear-cut chances, Man City gave the impression that they could have come close to scoring if they wanted to. The home team had four shots on target in the match, scoring two goals in both halves.
Sheffield had fought back against Man City in the first leg and only succumbed to a late Rodri goal. In the return leg, the visitors were again crushed by Rodri. The bottom team's dense defence only held out until the 14th minute, when Rodri won the ball in midfield, drove straight into the penalty area and finished diagonally past goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.
The early goal helped Man City play easily. Playing a bit leisurely, the home team still created many storms in the visitors' goal, but missed shots from Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish kept the gap at only one goal after the first half. Man City even almost paid the price at the end of the half, when William Osula comfortably finished in the penalty area.
Accelerating in the second half, Guardiola's students got what they wanted in the 61st minute. Oscar Bobb sent the ball into the penalty area for Phil Foden to cross just in time, helping Julian Alvarez easily score. The Foden and Alvarez duo then had more chances, but failed to capitalize on them, causing Man City to only win by two goals.
Alvarez celebrates scoring the winning goal in a 2-0 win over Sheffield. Photo: Sky
The 2-0 win puts Guardiola's men in third place with 40 points, two points behind leaders Liverpool and Aston Villa, who beat Burnley 3-2 thanks to a late penalty from Douglas Luiz. City have a week off before playing Huddersfield in the FA Cup. The Premier League returns to the Etihad Stadium on January 14, when they face Newcastle.
Line-up
Man City: Ederson; Walker (Lewis 61), Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic (Ruben Dias 61), Bernardo, Foden, Grealish (Bobb 51), Alvarez
Sheffield : Foderingham; Baldock, Trusty, Robinson; Thomas (Norrington-Davies 90), Bogle, Souza, Norwood; Slimane (Archer 67), Osula (Brewster 67), Brooks (Osborn 80).
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