Manchester City piled the pressure back on Arsenal in the title race with this hard-fought win over Leeds at Elland Road, a result that takes them back within two points of the leaders.
With Erling Haaland having to pull out of the squad with an injury and Leeds offering real fight, this was a stern test for Pep Guardiola’s side, and one they were clearly relieved to have passed.
During the opening 30 minutes, Leeds pinned City into their own half for sustained periods, their high press proving difficult for City to navigate. And even as the game developed, Leeds continued to make things uncomfortable for the visitors, targeting City’s high defensive line. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the first to get in behind, his shot going across the face and wide, before Brenden Aaronson was put clean through, only for Gianluigi Donnarumma to close down the angle impressively and make the save.
City grew into the game and, just before half-time, took the lead. The chance was created by a perfectly weighted Rayan Cherki pass, which cut the Leeds defence apart and allowed Rayan Ait-Nouri to get in behind on the left. His low cross found Antoine Semenyo, who converted from close range.
There was more control for City for much of the second half. But as the game wore on, Leeds came back into it, testing the City defence with a barrage of long throws, cranking up the pressure and playing on City’s nerves. With some staunch defending, City held strong.
After the final whistle blew, an angry Daniel Farke was shown a red card. It was that kind of night.
Sam Lee and Beren Cross analyse the key talking points.
A big result in the title race
The way the first half an hour unfolded, with Leeds stopping City from playing through the press and generating several chances, this did not feel like a game that the visitors would win.
Not with the way that City, this season, have dealt with that kind of pressure, and especially not without Haaland, which seemed to make them hesitant to go long over the press until they really had no choice.
But from then on, they established themselves in the Leeds half and battled with all they had to stay there. If a move broke down, or a pass was sloppily given away, somebody was on hand to win it back.
It was the kind of game that was necessary: the home fans sang ‘Get into ‘em!’ as Nico O’Reilly limped off and the hosts’ best hope in the second half was high balls into the box.
The last 10 minutes were fraught with danger — Nathan Ake replaced Rayan Cherki as City prepared for the final assault — but still City stood up to it all. Framed as another big night in the title race, this is a huge victory at a tough ground, where City were missing their most important player.
Sam Lee
How did City cope without Haaland?
City did look blunt without Haaland, but Semenyo, as has often been the case since he signed, was in exactly the type of spot you would hope a striker would occupy as he pounced for the winner.
Haaland brings an obvious menace that nobody can replicate, but his ability and willingness to fight for long balls are not something you are going to get from Omar Marmoush, who was largely a passenger before he was replaced by Savinho.
Overall, though, it was not so much what the forwards did in Haaland’s absence that got City this fine victory; it was the players behind them who battled and fought and kept the ball moving as safely as possible, until the right moment presented itself to play in behind the Leeds defence.
Rayan Cherki was largely brilliant at dictating the pace with his use of the ball, and it was his combination with Rayan Ait-Nouri that allowed Semenyo to put the finishing touch on a gritty performance.
At the end, thanks to that lack of an out ball, City really did have to hold on, but they scrapped their way over the line
Rayan Cherki delivered a brilliant performance (Oli Scarff / AFP via Getty Images)
Sam Lee
Did Leeds miss their chance?
As early as the fourth minute, it felt like Leeds United may rue missing one of the chances of the night. There was a collision between Marc Guehi and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which sent the former tumbling, but referee Peter Bankes let play continue.
Brenden Aaronson, freed into space by Guehi’s fall, ventured forward and curled one of the crosses of his season into his advancing No 9. It was inch-perfect, Calvert-Lewin seemed to meet it at the right cadence and position, but his steer went wide of the post, with Gianluigi Donnarumma beaten.
The wry smile showed Calvert-Lewin knew it had to be buried in a game like this. Less than 15 minutes later, Calvert-Lewin would again be wincing at what could have been.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed some great chances to score (Oli Scarff / AFP via Getty Images)
We have not seen pace in behind like this from the England hopeful. On several occasions in the first half, he exploited the high City line. This time, he ran away from Guehi, who chased, but the angle tightened, Donnarumma got bigger and he was left to roll the ball across the face of goal, hoping it might nick the inside of the far post.
It went out. Aaronson had the next two openings before the break. The first was harder as he flew in from the blind side onto a low cross, but the second was a great opportunity.
Anton Stach played him through on a break from a Manchester City corner. Aaronson ran the length of the away half before going one-on-one with Donnarumma. He allowed the angle to tighten, and Donnarumma comfortably smothered it.
Predictably, the visitors grew more influential in the second period, as Leeds tired. They were left wondering ‘what if?’ by their barnstorming opening half.
Beren Cross
What next for Leeds?
Tuesday, March 3: Sunderland (Home), Premier League, 7:30pm UK, 2:30pm ET
What next for Manchester City?
Wednesday, March 4: Nottingham Forest (Home), Premier League, 7:30pm UK, 2:30pm ET