Manchester City 1 Leeds United 0: City player ratings as Pep Guardiola’s side did what they had to do | OneFootball

Manchester City 1 (Antoine Semenyo 45+2′)

Leeds United 0

Here are the City player ratings and match report as Manchester City beat Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road. Antoine Semenyo’s goal in first half stoppage time was enough for City to move back within two points of Arsenal, who sit top of the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s side faces Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, knowing that City are breathing down their necks in the title race.

When the starting lineups were announced the biggest shock was that Erling Haaland wasn’t in Manchester City’s matchday squad for today’s match. It was revealed that Haaland has sustained a minor injury which kept him out of today’s match. In good news for Manchester City, Jeremy Doku returned to the bench for City after missing six matches due to injury.

First half

It took three minutes for Leeds to make their intentions clear at Elland Road. The hosts had the first opportunity of the match, which came on the counter. Rayan Ait-Nouri gave the ball away when Manchester City had possession, which allowed Leeds the opportunity to break. Brenden Aaronson played in a teasing ball from the right, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin got on the end of. Calvert-Lewin got to Aaronson’s cross on the stretch, but he diverted the ball wide with Gianluigi Donnarumma stranded. Daniel Farke’s side were up for the visit of Manchester City, and Pep Guardiola’s side had to match the intensity of the hosts.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin would put another chance wide in the 17th minute. A simple ball over the top of the Manchester City defense played in Calvert-Lewin. The Leeds striker got himself into a good position to shoot in the City area, and his left-footed strike went just wide of the far post. A minute later, Leeds defender James Justin hit a shot on target from just outside the City penalty area, which Donnarumma saved with ease. Pep Guardiola’s side were dominating possession, but the hosts were creating the better chances in the game’s early stages.

As the game ticked over the half-hour mark, Manchester City had stabilized the game after Leeds’ fast start. Pep Guardiola’s side enjoyed plenty of possession but were still yet to create any opportunities of note. Rayan Cherki did play Omar Marmoush in with a good ball in the 32nd minute. But the Leeds United defence crowded out the Egyptian international before he could get a shot off or pick out a teammate.

Gianluigi Donnarumma makes yet another crucial save.

Gianluigi Donnarumma would come to the rescue for Manchester City in the 39th minute. Rodri gave away the ball in midfield which set Leeds off on the counter. A ball was played through to Brenden Aaronson and the American international was clean through on goal. Aaronson worked himself into a position to shoot with his left foot but his shot was smothered by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Omar Marmoush saw a left-footed shot saved by Leeds United keeper Karl Darlow 30 seconds after Aaronson’s shot. Nico O’Reilly then saw Darlow make a tremendous save from his header in the 40th minute. City were finally beginning to come to life in the final third after being frustrated by Daniel Farke’s side for the majority of the first half.

Manchester City take the lead on the stroke of halftime…..GET IN!!!!

After a sustained spell of possession, Manchester City would take the lead on the stroke of halftime. Rayan Cherki played a sublime, inch-perfect ball to Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left wing. Ait-Nouri had time to deliver a quality cross across the six-yard box, and Antoine Semenyo was on hand to tap the ball into the net with Leeds keeper Karl Darlow stranded. It was a superb team goal, and Rayan Cherki’s ball to set Ait-Nouri away was absolutely sublime.

Semenyo’s goal would be the final moment of the first half. The first half was tough for Pep Guardiola’s side but they took a precious 1-nil lead into the interval. What did become apparent as the first half wore on was that City were growing into the game and Semenyo’s goal came after a sustained and quality spell of Manchester City possession.

Second half

Leeds United created the first opening of the second half in the 49th minute. Rúben Dias played Rayan Cherki into trouble after the Portuguese international slipped in midfield. His ball had too much on it for Cherki, and City conceded possession in a dangerous position on the pitch. Leeds countered with pace, and a ball from the right wing picked out Dominic Calvert-Lewin in space on the left-hand side of the City penalty area. Calvert-Lewin chested the ball down and got a left-footed shot away, but Matheus Nunes made a superb block to deny Calvert-Lewin a shot on target.

Omar Marmoush put a difficult chance wide of the near post in the 53rd minute. City enjoyed a good spell of possession, and Bernardo Silva picked out Matheus Nunes on the right wing into acres of space. Nunes put in a good cross that Marmoush got a foot to, but he steered the ball high and wide of the near post.

In the the 62nd minute Omar Marmoush would stab a chance wide at the backpost. The opening came after Ruben Dias made a driving run at the Leeds defence from midfield. Dias played a ball wide to Marmoush who saw his initial shot blocked. The ball fell back to Ruben Dias who fired in a poor shot in at goal. Dias’ shot crept towards the backpost and Marmoush slid in and prodded the ball wide with Leeds keeper Karl Darlow scrambling.

Omar Marmoush was replaced by Savinho in the 67th minute. The Brazilian winger finally returned to the pitch after long injury layoff. Tijjani Reijnders replaced Nico O’Reilly in the 70th minute as the young midfielder had picked up an injury concern in a challenge with Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu.

A fine save from Karl Darlow denies City a second goal.

Karl Darlow made a superb save to deny Marc Guehi a goal in the 72nd minute. Rayan Cherki flighted in a good corner from the left, which Rodri did well to keep alive. The ball fell to Guehi, who got a good header on target. Darlow flew across to keep the ball out with a fine diving save to prevent Manchester City from taking a vital 2-nil lead.

As the game entered the final ten minutes Leeds were offering a threat via the long throw of Ethan Ampadu. The City defence dealt well with the danger although it was a nervous time given what was at stake for Pep Guardiola’s side. Daniel Farke’s side and the Elland Road crowd did sense that the opportunity to find equalizer was on offer. Although they weren’t creating any clear cut chances as the second half wore on.

Leeds were pressing hard for an equalizer, and Jaka Bijol put a header from a good position wide in the 87th minute. Bijol got a glancing header on a corner, and the ball went wide of the post. Daniel Farke’s side were giving their all to find an equalizer.

Manchester City would see out the final few minutes plus six minutes of stoppage time to pick up a valuable three points today at Elland Road. It was a professional performance from Pep Guardiola’s side which spoke to the maturity of this City side. City now sit two points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table after today’s huge victory.

City player ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma-7/10: Made the save he had to in another assured performance in goal from Donnarumma. 

Matheus Nunes-7.5/10: I thought Nunes defended well when required and was an attacking threat when City had possession. 

Ruben Dias-8/10: A proper leaders performance from Ruben Dias. He made a host of crucial interventions and his leadership was vital today.

Marc Guehi-8/10: Another impressive display from Guehi. He was rarely flustered at the back and he defended exceptionally well when required. 

Rayan Ait-Nouri-8/10: One of Ait-Nouri’s best performances for Manchester City. He set up Semenyo’s goal and he was a constant threat going forward and I thought he defended well.

Rodri-8.5/10: Manchester City’s man-of-the-match in my opinion. He was the glue in midfield for Pep Guardiola’s side today. 

Bernardo Silva-7.5/10: A proper captain’s display from Bernardo today.

Nico O’Reilly-6.5/10: O’Reilly put himself about in midfield but he wasn’t as influential today as in previous matches. He was substituted due to an injury concern which will be a story to monitor ahead of City’s clash with Nottingham Forest. 

Antoine Semenyo-6.5/10: Semenyo scored the winner but I thought he was on the periphery of the match outside of his goal. But when his chance came he took it.

Rayan Cherki-8/10: A fantastic performance from Cherki. It was his ball the broke open the Leeds defence to set up City’s goal. Cherki wanted to be involved in the game and he was easily Manchester City’s most dangerous attacking player throughout the match.

Omar Marmoush-6.5/10: The Egyptian international had several half chances but it wasn’t his day in front of goal. What I did like was his willingness to get back and help his team when they lost possession. 

Substitutes

Savinho-6/10: Barely touched the ball after coming on but he did track back when required.

Tijjani Reijnders-6/10: Made a couple of promising forward runs but was quiet after coming off the bench.

Nathan Ake-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.