Man City 3-1 Chelsea: Player Ratings & Match Recap

Manchester City earned a much-needed 3-1 victory against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, bouncing back after a disappointing performance against Paris Saint-Germain. Erling Haaland played a pivotal role in the win, scoring one goal and providing an assist in the second half. Let’s break down how the players fared during this crucial match.

Early Setback for City

The match started poorly for Manchester City when debutant Abdukodir Khusanov misjudged a back-pass in the opening three minutes. Noni Madueke capitalized on the mistake, scoring to put Chelsea ahead. Despite the early setback, Pep Guardiola’s side responded strongly.

Gvardiol & Haaland Seal the Win

Josko Gvardiol equalized for City just before halftime, as he powered forward and finished off a pass from Matheus Nunes. The second half saw Haaland take charge: a well-placed chip over Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez gave City the lead. Haaland later assisted Phil Foden to secure the third goal and complete a 3-1 victory.

Manchester City Player Ratings (4-3-3)

• Ederson: 8.3/10 – The goalkeeper played a key role, not just with saves but also with long passes that led to Haaland’s goal.
• Matheus Nunes: 8.0/10 – Provided the assist for Gvardiol’s goal and had a strong defensive performance.
• Abdukodir Khusanov: 5.3/10 – Struggled on his debut, with a crucial mistake that led to Chelsea’s opening goal.
• Manuel Akanji: 6.9/10 – Reliable in defense but less involved in attacking moves.
• Josko Gvardiol: 8.1/10 – A solid defensive performance and a goal that was vital in leveling the score.
• Bernardo Silva: 7.2/10 – Delivered both in attack and defense, offering stability to the midfield.
• Mateo Kovacic: 7.3/10 – Was key in keeping the midfield under control and linking play.
• Ilkay Gundogan: 7.5/10 – Calm and composed, he was instrumental in maintaining possession and facilitating attacks.
• Phil Foden: 8.5/10 – Scored the third goal and was dangerous throughout, always looking to create something.
• Erling Haaland: 8.7/10 – The man of the match with a goal, an assist, and a constant threat to Chelsea’s defense.
• Omar Marmoush: 7.2/10 – Provided some threat but wasn’t as influential as others in the final third.

Substitutes:

• John Stones (54’ for Khusanov): 6.6/10 – Steady after coming on, solidifying the defense.
• Kevin De Bruyne (74’ for Marmoush): 6.0/10 – Had limited time on the pitch, with a few touches but no major influence.

Unused Subs: Stefan Ortega (GK), Vitor Reis, James McAtee, Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis, Jack Grealish, Savinho.

Chelsea Player Ratings (4-2-3-1)

• Robert Sanchez: 4.7/10 – The goalkeeper made errors leading to two of City’s goals, particularly failing to position himself well for Haaland’s chip.
• Reece James: 6.0/10 – Defensively solid but offered little in the attack.
• Trevoh Chalobah: 5.9/10 – Struggled against the physicality of Haaland and lacked composure in defense.
• Levi Colwill: 5.1/10 – Was often caught out of position, struggling to deal with City’s pace.
• Marc Cucurella: 5.9/10 – Defended diligently but couldn’t contribute significantly going forward.
• Moises Caicedo: 5.9/10 – Had a hard time in midfield, unable to impose himself and protect his defense.
• Enzo Fernandez: 5.8/10 – Played well in patches but couldn’t link play effectively.
• Cole Palmer: 6.5/10 – Showed promise in attack but lacked finishing quality.
• Noni Madueke: 7.5/10 – Chelsea’s standout player, scoring the early goal and creating problems for City’s defense.
• Nicolas Jackson: 7.5/10 – A constant presence upfront, Jackson worked hard and linked well with Madueke.
• Jadon Sancho: 6.2/10 – Had a quiet game with little influence on the attack.

Substitutes:

• Christopher Nkunku (61’ for Jackson): 6.4/10 – Looked lively in attack but couldn’t make a decisive impact.
• Malo Gusto (73’ for James): 6.1/10 – Offered fresh legs but didn’t provide much in terms of output.
• Pedro Neto (73’ for Sancho): 6.0/10 – Limited involvement after coming on.

Unused Subs: Filip Jorgensen (GK), Axel Disasi, Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu.

Man of the Match

Erling Haaland – The Norwegian striker was involved in all of City’s goals, scoring one and providing an assist. His constant presence and clinical finishing were key to City’s comeback victory.

Do you agree with the ratings? Which player impressed you the most? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!