Eighteenth and first relegation, Premier League“>Norwich City hosted the championship leader Manchester City on the occasion of the 25th day of the Premier League. At Carrow Road stadium, Pep Guardiola’s men hoped to continue their march forward, three days after their victory without forcing against Brentford (2-0) and a few hours from moving on the lawn of Sporting as part of the eighth of Champions League final first leg. Opposite, the Canaries, authors of two victories and a draw in the last three meetings in the league, could meanwhile get out of the red zone in the event of further success. For this meeting, the Skyblues performed a turnover with the tenures of Zinchenko, Fernandinho or Aké and therefore presented themselves in 4-3-3.
For his part, Dean Smith opted for the same tactical system as his opponent of the day after several games played in 4-4-2. Supported by Rashica and Sargent, Pukki logically started in the lead. For his 100th game in the Premier League, the Norwich coach saw, however, his men suffer considerably at the start of the game. After a goal logically denied to Foden for an offside position (3rd), Silva found the opposite post from Gunn after a nice serve from Mahrez (5th). Jostled and largely dominated in the first moments, the Canaries grew bolder however gradually and Lees-Melou even thought to open the scoring. At the reception of a center, the former Dijon and Nice placed a magnificent head which came to die on the basis of the amount of Ederson (18th). Valiant and well in place defensively, Norwich did not bend against the Mancunian waves, in particular thanks to a decisive Gunn on the flat of the right foot of Sterling (25th).
Sterling carries the Citizens
Increasingly dangerous around the opposing surface, the defending champions would nevertheless end up finding the fault. And how ! On a center from Walker, Sterling took advantage of the failed intervention of Aarons to roll up a sublime shot in the opposite corner of the last rampart of the Canaries, totally beaten on this brilliant shot from the striker of the Three Lions (0-1 , 31st). Carried by this opener, the Citizens then went on the attack to quickly take shelter but neither Mahrez, defeated by Gunn (33rd), nor Silva, too tender in his attempt to lob (39th), couldn’t find the station wagon. Whatever, at the break, it was City, master of the debates (74% possession of the ball), who returned with this short advantage on the scoreboard. And as soon as they returned from the locker room, the Skyblues struck again. Opportunistic and slightly lucky, Foden took advantage of a cross six meters from Gündogan to score in two stages and allow his team to take off (0-2, 48th).
Applied, serious and with a two-goal lead, the Mancunians narrowly missed the third in stride. Taking advantage of a deflection from Fernandinho’s header at the near post, Aké threw himself at the second but his point-blank shot found the top of Gunn’s bar (52nd). In control at the end of the game, Manchester City finally completed their victory a few moments later. On a corner, Sterling took advantage of a header from Dias to push the ball into the back of the line and definitively bury the tiny hopes of the Canaries (0-3, 69th). At the very end of the game, Sterling even offered himself a hat-trick by converting, in two stages, a penalty obtained by Delap (0-4, 90th). With this victory, Manchester City therefore consolidates its position as leader in the Premier League with a provisional 12 length lead over Liverpool, who have two games behind. A serious performance also allowing Pep Guardiola’s men to gain confidence before this decisive trip to Lisbon, Tuesday evening, for the knockout stages of the Champions League. For its part, Norwich relapses after three matches without defeat and thus remains stuck in a dangerous 18th place.
The official line-ups at kick-off
Le XI de Norwich
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▪️ City return to 4-3-3
▪️ Gilmour and Sargent back in
▪️ Idah and Placheta make way#NCFC | #NORMCI pic.twitter.com/IMKBjfgFBb— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) February 12, 2022
Le XI de Manchester City
Your City XI to take on Norwich! ????
XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Zinchenko, Fernandinho (C), Gundogan, Bernardo, Mahrez, Foden, Sterling
SUBS | Carson, Stones, Laporte, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Cancelo, Kayky, Delap. McAtee#ManCity | @HaysTechnology pic.twitter.com/bTcVaLrLBB
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 12, 2022
