2023-08-27 15:27:00
A long torpor, a fright but the reigning champion continues his victorious road. Manchester City went hard to beat Sheffield United on Sunday during the third day of the Premier League (1-2). Largely dominating but not sharp enough, the Mancunians waited for the hour mark to open the scoring through Erling Haaland (63rd) who had missed a penalty (36th). Their opponents, however, equalized through Jayden Bogle (85th) and Rodri (88th) quickly had to respond to offer them a 3rd victory synonymous with the leading position.
With rookie Jérémy Doku on the bench at kick-off but Bernardo Silva back in the starting XI, Manchester City immediately confiscated the ball in the opposing half. The visitors had 85% possession in the first quarter of an hour, almost as much at the break and even until the final whistle, but they were seriously slow to hit, find gaps and accelerate.
Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Credit: Getty Images
Haaland clumsy then goalscorer
Jack Grealish lacked desire on the left and did nothing good in the first act. Aligned in nine and a half, Julian Alvarez failed to find his place while the side Josko Gvardiol and Kyle Walker remained discreet. In the absence of playing master Kevin De Bruyne, everything rested on the creativity of Bernardo Silva, who proved too lonely to serve Haaland well. Closely watched by the opposing defense, the Norwegian especially sent a penalty on the left post of Wes Foderingham for a first missed in England, the fourth in his career (36th).
The meeting between the defending champion and the promoted resumed on the same basis after the break. Haaland, however, remained clumsy and missed the target on a good cross from Walker (50th) then stumbled on the opposing goalkeeper Wes Foderinhgam like Alvarez in stride (61st). While Juan Manuel Lillo, substitute for Pep Guardiola, absent because back surgery, began to get annoyed on his bench, Grealish still decided to wake up. The Englishman with his socks down overflowed on the left and centered towards the far post for an angry header from Haaland (0-1, 63rd).
Walker is loud, Rodri is patron
The Citizens seemed to have done the hardest part with this opener and this 3rd league goal this season from their Cyborg, especially as they raised their voices again. Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades, however, finally came out of their own half of the field to fire a very first shot (74th). They even equalized on a cross shot from Bogle after a guilty heel from Walker in his area (1-1, 85th).
Well aware of his mistake, Walker immediately wanted to redeem himself and hit hard on the right. He thus allowed Rodri to place an overpowering recovery from the left in the middle of the zone of truth to restore the advantage to the visitors (1-2, 88th). Former Bordeaux Anel Ahmedhodzic failed to respond (90th). Sheffield United suffers a third setback while Manchester City, even diminished and not very dashing, is already at the top of the table.
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