Manchester City secured vital three
points from Chelsea yesterday, as Sergio
Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne inspired the
visitors to an easy 0-3 victory.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side did much more
than take full command of the top four
chase by so comprehensively taking
Chelsea apart in their own stadium at the
weekend. They also took on a new mood
for the end of the season. Real Madrid
should be much more fearful of their
semifinal opponents than many in the
Spanish media had been after Friday’s
draw.
The win puts City four points clear of
Manchester United, as former Real
Madrid target Sergio Aguero claimed a
fine hat trick, ably assisted by the
brilliant Kevin De Bruyne, with the last
goal of the game also seeing
international teammate Thibaut Courtois
sent off late on.
The oddity is City were initially lethargic
as Chelsea had the better of the early
chances. Once City got a hold of the
game on 22 minutes, though, they never
let go and only got more confident.
By 33 minutes, Aguero had put his first
of the game past Courtois, finishing a
fine break with an effort from the edge
of the box that deflected off Gary Cahill.
The Argentine claimed a second on 54
minutes and this was so much cleaner,
as he powered the ball past Courtois.
The Chelsea goalkeeper was then caught
out on 80 minutes, as a Fernandinho run
to go one-on-one forced Courtois into a
foul, and allowed Aguero to grab his hat
trick from the penalty spot.
