City suffer late frustration in Chelsea draw

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Manchester City F.C.

·4 January 2026

City suffer late frustration in Chelsea draw

City had to settle for a point as a Tijjani Reijnders first-half strike was cancelled out by a last-gasp Enzo Fernandez leveller in our 1-1 draw with Chelsea.

On an evening where temperatures hit freezing, Dutchman Reijnders scored a scorcher – his third goal in his last three starts – to give us an interval lead.

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But Fernandez bundled home at the death to help the visitors to a share of the spoils.

The result moved us up into second spot in the Premier League table above Aston Villa on goal difference, six points behind leaders Arsenal.

THE GAME IN 250 WORDS

Ahead of kick-off, there were a touching few moments here at the Etihad as players, staff and fans fell silent to remember those we have lost in the past 12 months, among them star footballers Tony Book and Denis Law along with celebrated star supporters Ricky Hatton and John Stapleton.

When the game got underway, it took time to heat up in the baltic temperatures surrounding Manchester.

Phil Foden shot just wide on 20 minutes after brilliant build-up that saw Matheus Nunes flash a ball forward to Tijjani Reijnders who then played in the England playmaker.

Erling Haaland came to the fore just before the half hour mark but his header flew just wide under pressure from Benoit Badiashile.

Bernardo Silva showed wonderful skill on 36 minutes jinking to and fro before firing just over the bar.

Haaland ran onto a Foden flick moments later but his deflected shot was well parried away by Filip Jorgensen before the Norwegian No.9 struck the inside of the post after being played in by the returning Rodri.

Just as it seemed like City’s dominance might not bear fruit, Dutchman Reijnders provided a moment of magic, smashing home a left foot strike into the roof of the net.

Pedro Neto cleared the crossbar just after the restart as Enzo Fernandez set up the Portuguese star for a chance that really should have been converted.

That effort was orchestrated against the backdrop of Josko Gvardiol going down injured, the versatile defender eventually having to be carried off and replaced by Abdukodir Khusanov.

Just before the hour, there was the searing sight of Haaland running directly at the opposition defence, Badiashile eventually blocking the Premier League leading scorer’s strike just as it looked like he may double our advantage.

It could and possibly should have been two for the hosts when Cherki laid the ball off to Bernardo, the pass slightly undercooked with Chelsea clearing the danger.

The visitors were looking dangerous, too, with substitute Liam Delap enjoying a good opportunity, the former City starlet seeing a close-range effort well saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Delap didn’t endear himself to the City faithful after a shove on Khusanov that had the Uzbeki ace fly into the advertising hoardings and the Chelsea striker booked for the infringement.

There was toing and froing as the final whistle approached but Guardiola’s men looked set to hold on for a valuable three points before Fernandez beat Donnarumma at the back post from a Mato Gusto cross in the fourth of six minutes of stoppage time.

TEAMS

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias (Ake 81’), Gvardiol (Khusanov 51’), O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Reijnders (Doku 70’), Foden, Cherki, Haaland

Subs: Trafford, McAidoo, Mukasa, Lewis, Mfuni, R Heskey

CHELSEA XI: Jorgensen, Acheampong (Hato 62’), Chalobah, Badiashile, Gusto, Fernandez, James (c), Estevao (Santos 46’), Palmer, Neto, Joao Pedro (Delap 62’)

Subs: Merrick, Slonina, Tosin, Garnacho, Gittens, Guiu

MANAGER VERDICT

“We managed quite well in the first half.

“In the second half they had chances. We lost two balls in the beginning. We missed talented players at the end - two against one and three against two.

“They didn’t create much. We were extraordinary in all departments except we could not score a second or a third or a fourth.

“Of course in the second half they made a step up, first half they were a little more cautious and then had nothing to lose and at the end they found the reward.”

RODRI REACTION

“It’s frustrating of course but at the end it is what it is.

“We created enough chances to win the game three or four nil, but this is football. If you don’t take your chances with nothing they just draw the game.

“So we have to learn from this. There is still a long way and we just need to focus on the next games.

“First half was brilliant, enough to score three or four goals. In the second half we forgot a little bit how to play and they got control of the game, losing easy balls.

“Sometimes when you defend, defend, defend, they did not have much but they get a draw. There’s still a long way to go.”

WHAT IT MEANS

City move back into second spot in the Premier League.

Aston Villa’s 3-1 triumph over Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s early game helped them leapfrog us but tonight’s 1-1 draw puts us back where we started the weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s men are six points behind Arsenal, who won 3-2 at Bournemouth, after 20 games.

WHAT’S NEXT

We’re back on home soil in our next encounter.

City take on Brighton in the Premier League at the Etihad on Wednesday 7 January, with a 19:30 (UK) kick-off.

That’s followed up swiftly with an FA Cup third round clash with Exeter City, again at the Etihad, with a traditional 15:00 (UK) start on Saturday 10 January.