Round 28 - Premier League 2025

Leeds - Manchester City

   0 1

Team:          Character:

26 Darlow 8

2 Bogle 6

24 Justin 7

6 Rodon 7

5 Struijk 7

3 Gudmundsson 7

4 Ampadu 5

44 Gruev 5

18 Stach 6

11 Aaronson 5

9 Calvert-Lewin 6

1 Perri

23 Bornauw

15 Bijol

22 Tanaka

10 Piroe

8 Longstaff

7 James

29 Gnonto

14 Nmecha

Facts:

0-1 Semenyo 47 min.

Yellow cards:

Nobody

Red cards:

Farke 97 min.

Substitutes:

65 min. Nmecha for Aaronson

76 min. James for Bogle

76 min. Gnonto for Gruev

87 min. Piroe for Justin

87 min. Bijol for Rodon

Prematch:.

Manchester City have recently closed in on Arsenal`s lead at the top of the table after the league leaders dropped points against Brentford and Wolves.

Man.City are now five points behind, but have a game in hand.

The two top-teams will meet on april 18 at Etihad in Manchester.

The match between Manchester City and Leeds at Etihad turned the season completely around for Leeds in many ways.

A Leeds-team at the time in free fall, played a fantastic second half in that match even tough they lost the game at the end.

Saturdays win against Newcastle was Manchester City`s third consecutive win in the premier league after the 2-2 draw with Spurs, where City were leading 2-0 at half time.

Donnarumma has replaced Ederson between the posts, after Ederson joined Fenerbache in Turkey.

James Trafford was brought back from a loan spell with Burnley as cover for the Italian.

Midfielder Rodri is back in action but is miles away from the form he was in before he was injured.

Haaland continues to score goals and has now scored 22 in Premier league.

Guardiola has a very good squad now with double coverage in all positions.

Okafor is missing for the home team, apart from that every player are available.

Leeds must continue their good home form and try to get revenge from the result at Etihad.

First half:

Leeds started the match very well and got the first opportunity when Aaronson put in a cross form the right, Calvert-Lewin was unmarked in the area and should have scored, but his effort went wide of the post. The same man had a new opportunity after 17 minutes when he was played trough on the left side, went into the penalty area and turned but again his effort went on the wrong side of the post.

Justin had a shot from distance which Donnarumma had under control.

Aaronson had the next opportunity when a cross from Bogle on the right was met by Aaronson, but his shot was also on the wrong end of the post.

The american also had a big chance after 39 minutes when he was played trough the City defence, but he was in an offside position so the goal wouldn`t have counted anyway.

Leeds had created the chances so far but the strange thing was that City dominated the possession .

Rodri and Silva was in total controll in the middle of the park and had the Leeds players chasing shadows. When the interval was closing in City started to create chances, espesially on their left side with Marmoush and Ait.Nouri, who gave Bogle and Justin something to think about.

First Marmoush was played trough on the left but Darlow saved his shot easily.

Then O+Reilly got in a header after a cross from the right but his effort was saved by Darlow, who tipped the ball over the crossbar. When the clock went passed 45 minutes City went in front.

A splendid pass from Cherki found Ait-Nouri, he went into the penalty area and his cross did Semenyo

put into the net from 5 meters. Ampadu should have read the situation earlier and picked up Ait Nouri`s run, but he didn`t and the visitors took the lead.

A strange half where City totally dominated possession but Leeds created some big chances.

City didn`t created anything in front of goal before we approached the half time whistle.

Leeds had problems in midfield and did a lot of running without the ball which costs a lot of energy.

Second half:

The second half started in the same way where City took control of the midfield area and Ampadu & co. had problems winning the ball back.

I this half City was much better defending and didn`t give the home side many chances to write about.

Marmoush had the first opportunity for the visitors but his finishing went outside the post.

Then Dias had an opportunity, when his shot went well outside the post but Marmoush almost reached the ball at the far post, but it went outside.

The offensive left back Ait-Nouri had the next opportunity when he fired from 17 meter but the ball flew 5 meter outside the goal.

Then Darlow had an exceptional save when he reached the header from Guehi.after a City corner.

The home crowd had to wait until the dying minutes before they had a big chance to talk about. Substitute Bijol headed a corner one meter outside the post. and that was the last opportunity from the home side.

We have to accept that Man.CIty were by far the better team today. The were better with the ball and they were better without the ball. City dominated possession and when they started to create chances Leeds got big problems.

The home side struggled in midfield and had some problem with City`s pressure where they stressed Leeds all over the pitch. In the second half it looked more like men against boys and Leeds created very little.

A little bit disappointing but we have to accept that the opposition at the moment are a far better side than Leeds and will challenge Arsenal for the title.

Leeds have to concentrate on tuesday`s home match against Sunderland. That is a match Leeds must win and I beleive they will.

MOT

Players: 1-5-4-1

26 Darlow

Leeds best player today. Couldn`t do anything to save the goal but he had som very good saves which kept Leeds in the game. His distribution was better today and his communication with the defence in front of him was good.

2 Bogle

Had some problems defensively in the first half with Marmoush and Ait-Nouri. Didn`t get the chance to come forward and use his offensive abilities. A better second half defensively.

24 Justin

Did some good defending before the break except from the building up to the goal where he was dragged out of position by Marmoush. Won a lot of duels both on the ground and in the air.

6 Rodon

Couldn`t prevent Semenyo to score right before half time. Did some good defending after some heavy pressure from the guests. Used the ball well when he had the opportunity.

5 Struijk

Won his share of duels as well. Calm on the ball and put a lot of good passes into the left corridor.

One of Leeds best outfield players today without shining against a strong opposition..

3 Gudmundsson

Did some great running down the left side when he challenged City`s defence. But City did a good job in the second half denying him the spaces he wanted.

44 Gruev

Was second best today against a very good opposition. City totally dominate the midfield-area and Gruev was running after his opponents from start to finish.

4 Ampadu

Was not at his best today. He was working hard but was often inaccurate with his passes and his throw-ins didn`t create any chances either against a very disiplined opposition.

18 Stach

Worked very hard but City didn`t give him any spaces in midfield and it was difficult to create chances. Some good delivery on dead-ball situations but no goals to share this time.

11 Aaronson

Created a big chance for Calvert-Lewin with his cross after only four minutes and wasted a chance by himself when he met a cross on the nearest post, but his effort went outside the post. Fell out of the game after the break and was substituted.

9 Calvert-Lewin

Had a golden opportunity after four minutes, but his effort flied outside the post from good position.

Had another chance when he turned in the box and pressed his shot outside the post.

Won some duels in the air but had a hard time against a strong defence today.

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14 Nmecha

Was thrown into a partnership with Calvert-Lewin up front to try to put some more pressure on Man.City`s defence, but was not involved in any chances.

29 Gnonto

He also was very little involved and couldn`t create chances from the left side.

7 James

Took place on the right side and had å few opportunities to cross into the area, but the quality was not there.

15 Bijol

Got the last minutes and was thrown in to help with deadball-situations, and had a header after corner which was dangerous but went 2 meters outside the post

10 Piroe

Didn`t get much involved the time he got on the pitch. Difficult as long as Leeds pumped long balls into the area in the last minutes.