Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City extended their unbeaten run against Chelsea with a thrilling 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium on January 25. This defeat marked another tough blow for Chelsea, as they haven’t beaten City since their 2021 Champions League final win. The loss dropped Chelsea to 6th place in the Premier League, while City climbed into 4th.
The game’s turning point came from a rare mistake by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Attempting to clear a long ball from City’s Ederson, Sanchez left his goal exposed. Erling Haaland, ever alert, seized the opportunity, outmuscling Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah to chip the ball delicately over Sanchez for his 18th league goal this season. The goal stretched Haaland’s streak to six matches with a goal in every game.
With just three minutes left on the clock, Phil Foden sealed the win for City. After receiving a perfectly timed assist from Haaland, Foden made no mistake in front of goal, netting his fifth goal in four games.
This victory not only kept City’s unbeaten league run intact for six matches but also marked a milestone for Ederson, who became the first goalkeeper in 16 years to register two assists in a single Premier League season.
The match was bittersweet for debutant Abdukodir Khusanov, who, in an unfortunate moment, contributed to Chelsea’s opening goal. A misjudged clearance from Khusanov in the 3rd minute fell directly to Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, who quickly assisted Noni Madueke for an easy tap-in.
However, City responded swiftly. Josko Gvardiol scored the equalizer after a rebound from Sanchez’s save on Matheus Nunes’ shot, and the momentum shifted in City’s favor. Earlier in the match, Foden had hit the post, and Omar Marmoush had a goal ruled offside.
Despite a promising start, Chelsea’s momentum quickly faded. A missed opportunity from Cole Palmer left Jackson with an open goal he couldn’t convert, and Chelsea failed to regain their earlier form, struggling to create chances against City’s dominance.
For Chelsea, this defeat extends their winless streak against Manchester City to 11 matches, underscoring their ongoing struggle against Guardiola’s powerhouse team.