Football fans around the world were looking forward to a lip-smacking El Clasico at the Nou Camp but the weekend entertainment started much earlier. The eagerly anticipated showdown between title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea was well worth the watch, as two hugely successful coaches lined up to face each other.
Antonio Conte took the plaudits and 3 points from a spirited game that included excellent goals, rueful missed chances, poignant moments (in remembrance of Chapecoense) and some contentious refereeing.
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The match culminated in utter chaos as fights broke out at the Etihad in injury time; surely, neither City nor Chelsea will have heard the last of what will be seen as gross indiscipline and inability to control players.
This match was not short of topics to touch upon; we take a look at the five most important ones.
#5. Costa and Hazard shine for Chelsea, defensive lapses continue to haunt City
Diego Costa showed why he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League, scoring his 11th goal of the League season and assisting another.
His strike came off a sumptuous Fabregas pass and was the result of wonderful control; he took the ball on his chest, turned on Otamendi and shot superbly into the net. The City defender was again embarrassed by Costa who shook him off and put Willian through for Chelsea’s second goal of the game.
Hazard was his usual buzzing self, running all over the pitch and linking up play. He should have scored much earlier in the game when clearly put through on goal with no City defenders in sight, but overran it and his eventual pass did not cut it.
When he did score, the Belgian did it in stunning fashion, brushing aside Alexander Kolarov while latching on to the end of a lovely pass from Marcus Alonso on the break.
City’s defence seems to be in shambles; for one of the most expensively assembled sides in the Premier League, this is certainly worrisome.
While the yellow for Otamendi for his challenge on Costa may have been slightly harsh, the defender could and should have done better for both Costa and Willian’s goals. He should not be singled out though, as barely anyone in the City back-line truly inspires confidence.
Their last home win (and only clean sheet this season) came against Bournemouth in mid-September, followed by three stalemates.
Pep Guardiola has a task on his hands and may have to consider potential additions to strengthen his side’s defence during the January transfer window.
#4. City could feel hard done by inconsistent and poor refereeing
The Blues’ visit to the Etihad was awaited keenly by fans of both clubs and neutrals worldwide; the match proved to be worthwhile and certainly had its share of drama, with the referees sadly on the spot.
David Luiz nudged Aguero when the latter was clearly through on goal; that the Chelsea defender had no eyes for the ball but went for the shoulder push indicates he knew what he was doing. City players and fans alike were irate however, as match referee Anthony Taylor waved the game on and continued as if nothing had happened.
Taylor was in the eye of a storm for giving away a host of decisions in favour of Chelsea and was booed off by the home crowd at the half-time whistle. The home side also had two penalty calls turned down in the second half, one for a challenge on Gundogan by Kante and the second on Jesus Navas by Marcus Alonso.
While the former offence went somewhat unnoticed, clips and replays of the latter clearly showed Alonso clipping Navas after the ball had gone. City players and fans bristled at Taylor’s inconsistency throughout the game and will undoubtedly have cause for complain, as some calls could have turned the match on its head.
#3. Missed chances prove too costly for City
While Anthony Taylor and his colleagues did not cover themselves in glory for their officiating standards, ultimately City have only themselves to blame for not burying their chances and closing out the game. The Manchester side started off well, creating a host of opportunities and forcing the Blues back into their own half.
However, Kun Aguero was far from his best on the afternoon, missing two gilt-edged chances – one from a Silva pass that was blocked eventually by Azpilicueta and the second shot straight at Courtois after some delayed decision-making.
Two minutes after Aguero’s second miss, Kevin De Bruyne had a glorious chance to make amends and put City ahead. Instead, he made an absolute mess of himself by teeing up the ball high and failing to score from a couple of yards out with Chelsea’s defence nowhere in sight.
City’s failure to capitalise on the chances – attack being their strength and all that - and a lack of clinical finishing resulted in them snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
#2. Bans and unpleasant scenes at the Etihad leave a bad aftertaste
David Luiz and Kun Aguero clashed more than once during the course of the game but the Argentine’s studs-up challenge on the Brazilian in injury time was horrendous and unpardonable, to say the least. This is not Aguero’s first such offence on Luiz; it is also in fact, his second sending off offence this season. He is likely to miss the next four games (or more, depending on the FA) for City in a vital run-up leading up to the close of the year.
The forward saw red for the assault but already fragile tempers reached boiling point in the ensuing melee. Chalobah, Fernandinho and Cesc Fabregas all got involved in the fracas while Diego Costa tried to play peacemaker, astonishingly.
Fabregas appeared to have slapped Fernandinho (which was missed by all cameras at first) and the Brazilian grabbed the former’s neck more than once (elaborately covered by the media with some Chelsea fan accounts on Twitter actually lauding him for his cool). The City midfielder’s reaction resulted in a red card and his side going down to 9 men for the last minute or so that was left of the game.
Guardiola refused Fabregas’ handshake after the full-time whistle while his players looked frustrated on an afternoon where nothing went their way; that they took it out by losing their heads on the pitch in such fashion was a shame indeed.
Neither club will have seen the last of disciplinary action; there is sufficient potential for a case of retrospective ban on Fabregas for provocation, besides the inability of their officials to keep their players in check.
#1. Chelsea keep their place at the top with a fantastic comeback win
Chelsea maintained their position at the top of the Premier League table with a resolute win over fellow title contenders Manchester City. Antonio Conte’s men romped to their eighth straight win in style; Diego Costa opened the scoring and later assisted Willian’s finish while Hazard completed the rout in the closing minutes of regular time.
The Blues played a patient game and with their heads clear; they certainly rode their luck but made the most of the opportunities in attack, scoring three goals from their first three shots on target. The Londoners now have a clear four-point lead over nearest rivals Liverpool at the head of the table, with the Reds set to visit Bournemouth tomorrow.
Conte’s switch in formation to a 3-4-2-1 from the second half of the game against Arsenal has proved to be a crucial turning point in the Blues’ fortunes. The Londoners have conceded only twice (including this game) while finding the opposition net 22 times since.
Chelsea’s impressive run has made them favourites to win the league – not only has it brought out the best out of their attackers, the clean sheets have proved they are defensively solid too.
The game – hugely hyped due to the quality and acclaim of the men in the dugouts (as also their charges) – was a highly entertaining one throughout, with the Chelsea win ensuring that Pep Guardiola is yet to best the Blues (P6: W0, D4, L2) in all competitions played.
