Without Haaland or De Bruyne, Manchester City made short work of Chelsea for their entry into the running in the FA Cup (4-0). Finalists of the past season in the two national cups, the Blues have a day and a half of the League Cup by the Citizens (2-0) then three defeats on an aggregate score of 7-0 in the season.
But as much as the midweek display had been buoyant for the combative but injury-stricken Londoners, the first half of this game was cataclysmic. Without rhythm, without aggression, without movement or idea, they could even be almost happy to be trailing only 3-0 at the break.
One-sided first half
Riyad Mahrez, already a decisive scorer on Thursday, opened the scoring with a direct free kick from 24 meters in the top corner (23rd), before the recent world champion, Julian Alvarez, preferred to Erling Haaland for this match, transformed a penalty awarded with the help of the VAR for a handball by Kai Havertz (2-0, 30th).
A few minutes later, at the conclusion of a very nice collective action, Phil Foden shot the nail (3-0, 38th).
The second period was managed without fear and without any real rebellion from Chelsea, which further aggravated its case by conceding a second penalty seven minutes from the end, scored by Mahrez (4-0, 85th).
Nine Premier League clubs on the mat
Qualified for the 16th which will be held in 3 weeks, City will have to wait until Monday evening to know their opponent who could again be a London team, since they will meet the winner of the match between Oxford United (D3) and the Premier League leader, Arsenal.
Sunday was again a difficult day for the elite clubs, like Unai Emery’s team, Aston Villa, overthrown at home by the second in the 4th division Stevenage (2-1).
Leeds, meanwhile, had come very close to elimination by being led 2-0 in Cardiff (D2), before equalizing (90th +4) and snatching a game to replay.
Saturday’s meetings had notably been fatal in Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest or especially Newcastle, released (2-1) by Sheffield Wednesday (D3), while the defending champion, Liverpool, will have to replay their match against Wolverhampton (2-2) , but in Molineux this time.
The winner will have the delicate mission of playing everything in Brighton. At least nine Premier League teams have been or will be eliminated as soon as they enter the competition.
Clement draw for the « big guys »
In addition, the draw, carried out in the middle of the afternoon, was rather lenient with the other big teams, Manchester United while Tottenham will travel to Preston North End, two mid-table teams in D2.
The heroes of Wrexham, a Welsh club in the 5th division, who all snatched a spectacular qualification (4-3) in Coventry (D2) on Saturday, have designated another Championship club, Sheffield United, but which they will welcome to the bubbling Racetrack grounds.
