Eden Hazard at the double as Chelsea maintain title advantage
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Updated 06/04/2017 at 06:08 GMT
Premier League, Stamford Bridge – Chelsea 2 (Hazard 10, 35) Manchester City 1 (Aguero 26
Chelsea's Eden Hazard celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates
Image credit: Reuters
Chelsea bounced back to winning ways and took a significant step towards the Premier League title as they edged to a 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte's men followed up their surprise weekend defeat at home to Crystal Palace with a gritty and far from convincing display that was all about the result.
The visitors were lively throughout but were undone by Eden Hazard's first-half brace that came either side of Sergio Aguero's 27th strike of the season.
It was all the more important for Chelsea given second-placed Tottenham's dramatic late triumph at Swansea. It means the Blues remain very much in charge of their own destiny, as they are seven points clear at the summit with just eight games to play.
City welcomed back captain Vincent Kompany for only his third Premier League start of the campaign, but saw their eight-match unbeaten league run came to an abrupt halt despite dominating for large spells.
The defeat emphatically ends any outside hopes of a late title tilt for Pep Guardiola's fourth-placed side, who will now be looking anxiously over their shoulder at Manchester United and Arsenal as the race for the final few Champions League places grows ever tighter.
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Manchester City's Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates
Image credit: Reuters
TALKING POINT - The type of result key to winning titles
The jitters have affected the very best over the years and many observers were hoping the weekend loss at home to Palace was a sign Chelsea may allow their rivals back into the race. This result was a real statement that they won't let that happen.
A seven-point gap with eight to play has been overturned in the past but, on this evidence, it's hard to see this Chelsea side relinquishing their grip on top spot as they enter the final furlong. They controlled the second period from a defensive point of view, and although they rode their luck on one or two occasions, they have a resilience to go with the flair of their star attackers that has set them apart this term.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Eden Hazard (Chelsea). Not vintage Hazard, but big-game players produce when it matters most. Conte and Co may well look back on this result as a significant marker on their path to the title and the Belgian's goals were vital.
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Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard (L) vies with Manchester City's French defender Gael Clichy during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in London on April 5, 2017.
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
CHELSEA: Courtois 6; Zouma 6, David Luiz 7, Cahill 8; Azpilicueta 7, Kante 7, Fabregas 7, Alonso 7; Pedro 7, Diego Costa 6, Hazard 8. Subs: Matic 6, Willian n/a, Loftus-Cheek n/a.
MAN CITY: Caballero 5, Clichy 6, Stones 5, Kompany 6, Fernandinho 5, Delph 5, Sane 7, Silva 7, De Bruyne 6, Navas 6, Aguero 6. Subs: Sterling n/a, Nolito n/a.
KEY MOMENTS
10' - GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 MAN CITY. Chelsea get off to a flying start! Hazard flashes a first-time shot beyond Caballero who should do better despite a deflection off Kompany. It was a lovely cut back from Azpilicueta from the right byline to set up the Belgian to finish.
23' - CHELSEA CHANCE! Chelsea rip City to shreds down the left. It's cut back to Fabregas who sees his strike deflect off Clichy and fly just over the top.
26' - GOAL! CHELSEA 1-1 MAN CITY. Aguero gobbles up the rebound to pull City level after Silva's low drive from the left of the area was parried into his path by Courtois. The Chelsea keeper completely at fault with a woeful clearance that he presented straight to Silva.
29' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Sane shows real pace to sprint free of Zouma but can't quite clip over the advancing Courtois who gets an important block on the attempt.
35' - GOAL! CHELSEA 2-1 MAN CITY. Hazard sees his penalty saved by Caballero but follows up to smash home the rebound. The league leaders are back in front after Fernandinho gifted them the spot kick Fernandinho with a clear trip on Pedro on the right of the box.
47' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Kompany adjusts his body brilliantly to meet De Bruyne's deep free kick with a looping header that clips the top of the bar. Let off for the home side.
51' - WHAT A MISS! Fernandinho skews a horrible volley over the top from eight yards out after he had latched onto Delph's hopeful flick into the area.
66' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Stones brushes off Matic but bullets his header straight at Courtois from the left-wing corner.
76' - CHELSEA CHANCE! Hazard blazes over from 16 yards after Pedro's cutback from the right had found its way to the Belgian.
90+2' - MAN CITY CHANCE! Nolito curves a wonderful ball in behind Cahill for Aguero who sees his volley on the slide blocked by Courtois. From the resulting corner Stones somehow miscues a volley from inside the six-yard box over the top. A huge miss.
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Manchester City's John Stones reacts after a missed chance
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
- This is the first time that Pep Guardiola has lost both home & away against the same opponent in a single league season as a boss.
- Guardiola has suffered six league defeats as Man City boss this season, his highest tally in a single league season as a manager.
- Hazard has now scored 10 goals at home in the Premier League this season, only Romelu Lukaku (13) and Harry Kane (14) have more.
- Sergio Aguero has now scored nine goals in his last nine appearances for Manchester City in all competitions.
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