Manchester City weathered the disappointing Champions League semi-final at Real Madrid to brush aside Newcastle United and open a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
The final champions capitalized on Liverpool’s draw against Tottenham Hotspur with a brilliant response that not only cemented their position at the top of the Premier League but also improved goal difference significantly.
Chris Wood missed a big chance for Newcastle to cheer City and his side paid the price when Raheem Sterling took the lead after 19 minutes against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Aymeric Laporte added seconds before the break after Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka parried an Ilkay Gundogan volley and Rodri secured the win with Kevin de Bruyne’s corner header just after the free-kick.
A city with a rebellious and classless Newcastle continued to improve their goal difference as substitute Phil Foden scored in the dying moments and touched Oleksandr Zinchenko before Sterling ended the run with a close finish.
Man City is steel and style
The city had many questions ahead of the game about his character and his possible reaction to losing a place in the Champions League final to Real Madrid’s late return to the Bernabeu.
The method of this victory and its greater significance was the perfect answer.
There was some nervousness at first at the Etihad Stadium and the Newcastle Wood striker could have been even bigger if he hadn’t given up after a weak cross from Allan Saint-Maximin’s cross in the early trades.
Not only did he head a tame header into Ederson, but it could be argued that Joelinton had an even better chance with the Brazilian lurking behind him.
Conversely, City showed his whole class was under attack and when Sterling put them ahead it looked like there would only be one result.
It was a morale-boosting performance and a result that put City in pole position to retain the title as they are three points clear with three games to go – and the lovely win puts them one goal ahead of Liverpool by four. target difference.
The closing stages were used as a formality, with City in full control. The only cloud of their day was replacing top defender Ruben Dias in midfield.
However, if those last two goals add up, City could have a key should they fail in one of the finals.
And Guardiola, a troubled man at Madrid, was more agitated as the measure progressed, even demanding a stable relationship for Gabriel Jesus from City fans when he was substituted, which was duly answered.
The city has its fate in its hands as Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United travel ahead of the previous day’s home game against Aston Villa.
