Premier League, Stamford Bridge – Chelsea 1 (Remy 41) Manchester City 1 (Silva 45)
Chelsea and Manchester City drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge as the leaders kept their distance at the top. Chelsea started the game without Diego Costa, suspended after treading on Emre Can in the game against Liverpool in midweek, and it was his replacement, Loic Remy, who opened the scoring. With five minutes of the half remaining, Branislav Ivanovic picked out Eden Hazard at the back post, and his pass across the box as tapped in by Remy who had an easy finish. Just before the half-time whistle, David Silva turned in a Sergio Aguero shot after Thibaut Courtois flapped at a Jesus Navas cross. In the second half, chances were again at a premium, and Chelsea finished the game making increasingly defensive changes, introducing Gary Cahill as the match drew to a close. For City, they brought on Frank Lampard with 15 minutes remaining, but neither side wias able to create a clear-cut chance to seal the game. Chelsea remain five points clear at the top. KEY EVENTS 32’ – AGUERO MISS – Willian deflects a pass into the path of Ramires, who lifts the ball straight into Demichelis’ arm. City break as Chelsea appeal for a handball, and Aguero drags a shot inches wide of the far post. 41’ – GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City. Remy scores – Ivanovic picks out Hazard, peeling away at the back post. He sends a great pass across the box for Remy, who knocks into an empty net. 45’ – GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Manchester City. Silva scores – Sagna finds Navas down the right, and Milner obscures Courtois’ view. He flaps at the ball and it comes to Aguero, who steadies himself and whips in a shot that Silva puts back on target inside the post. 56’ – COURTOIS SAVE – Navas lifts a cross over from the right for Fernandinho, and he heads his effort straight into the ground, but Courtois has to leap to tip it over. KEY STATS Chelsea have won four and lost just two of their last nine Barclays Premier League games against Manchester City. Jose Mourinho has won seven and lost just two of the 12 meetings as a coach with Manuel Pellegrini. Chelsea have won 11 and lost just one of the last 17 Premier League home games against the Citizens. City have scored the first Premier League goal against Chelsea in the Stamford Bridge in the last six games.
Is the chase for the league over? Chelsea have looked tired of late, and this was City’s chance to set down a marker had they won at Stamford Bridge, and cut the lead too. Instead, Chelsea have shown yet again that they can keep the best sides at arm’s length and rarely have problems with the rest of the league. If they secure the signature of Juan Cuadrado before the end of the transfer window, then they have another player to allow their first choice to rest more often and, they will hope, regain some of their freshness. MAN OF THE MATCH John Terry (Chelsea): In a game where he faced Sergio Aguero and David Silva, and playing for the side that was inviting pressure for much of the game, it was Terry who kept his defence organised. Sitting deep, it did not matter that he has relatively little pace, because he was able to keep City at bay for almost all of the game. PLAYER RATINGS Chelsea: Courtois 6, Ivanovic 6, Zouma 6, Terry 7, Azpilicueta 6, Ramires 6, Matic 7, Willian 7, Oscar 6, Hazard 6, Remy 6. Subs: Cahill 6, Loftus-Cheek 6, Drogba 6. Manchester City: Hart 6, Sagna 7, Kompany 6, Demichelis 7, Clichy 6, Navas 5, Fernando 6, Fernandinho 6, Milner 6, Silva 6, Aguero 6. Subs: Lampard 6, Dzeko 6.
