Manchester City lost some ground in the Premier League title race after drawing 1-1 with Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday night.
Premier League
Result: Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea
Date: 17 February 2024
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Pep Guardiola recalled Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Jeremy Doku after the win over FC Copenhagen on Wendesday, while Raheem Sterling and Levi Colwill came back into the Blues' line-up.
City came out firing in the early stages of the half and should have been ahead in the 12th minute when top scorer Erling Haaland nodded wide of the upright from close range.
The Blues had a big chance of their own after 24 minutes when Conor Gallagher picked out an unmarked Nicolas Jackson in the box, but the Senegalese forward failed to beat Ederson who made the save.
While City did all the dominating, the Blues got the opener against the run of play on 41 minutes when Jackson broke down the right and picked out Sterling, who cut inside before firing past Ederson.
Both sides opted for a change on the hour mark as City introduced Bernardo Silva for Julian Alvarez, while Christopher Nkunku replaced goalscorer Sterling for the visiting side.
Guardiola's men dominated after the break as they went in search of equaliser, but Blues goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic produced a good save at his near post to keep out Haaland after 66 minutes.
The home side squandered a glorious chance to pull level in the 77th minute when Kevin de Bruyne's cross found an un-marked who surprisingly headed over the crossbar with only Petrovic to beat.
City did get their reward in the 83rd minute when Kyle Walker's shot deflected into the path of Rodri, who sent a powerful volley into the back of the net from the edge of the box.
However, the European champions were unable to breach the Chelsea defence again, as the visitors did everything to hold on for a point in Manchester.
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