Manchester City beat Leeds United 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It was a result that saw the defending Champions extend their lead over Arsenal to four points. The Blues remain at the summit of the Premier League table.

Pep Guardiola’s side dominated from start to finish across the ninety minutes. However, they came up against a Leeds side who offered very little barring a late goal from substitute Rodrigo Moreno.

City settled down into the game within the first few minutes and should have taken the lead multiple times in the first 15 minutes. Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland all had glorious opportunities to score before Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring in the 19th minute.

Manchester City didn’t need to work hard for victory

With Manchester City at their imperious best, the German slotted his shot into the right bottom corner. Riyad Mahrez’s clever low square pass from the right wing found the German.

Eight minutes later, Gundogan doubled the Blues’ advantage with an almost identical goal to his first. Yet, this time he placed the ball deftly in the opposite side past Leeds goalkeeper Joel Robles. The hosts could have been five or six ahead by the break but were uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal.

It was one-way traffic after the break. Manchester City dominated possession and Leeds were forced to put their bodies on the line behind the ball, looking to strike on the counter. The Yorkshire side were spared a bigger beating as Haaland squandered several opportunities.

Sam Allardyce faces an uphill battle to avoid relegation

City could have put the game to bed in the 84th minute, but Gundogan missed from the penalty spot. His effort from 12-yards struck the crossbar. With Rodrigo scoring seconds later, it set up a nervy last few minutes for the Champions with Guardiola visibly upset on the sideline.

The Spanish manager had clearly instructed Haaland to take the penalty but the striker offered Gundogan the chance to complete his hattrick from the spot.

Manchester City did hang on to claim the win and will now turn their attention to the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid this coming week.

For Leeds and Sam Allardyce, the signs are ominous as they remain winless in their last five games and sit above the relegation zone solely down to goal difference. Allardyce’s claims that he is as good as Pep Guardiola may be a cause of regret in the near future.

Photo credit: IMAGO / Action Plus