Manchester City have come a long way and won the Premier League
At the end of a frenzied final day, Manchester City beat Aston Villa to become champions of England by a point over Liverpool.
Ilkay Gundogan, entered in the 68th, was decisive for Manchester City with two goals.
AFP
Manchester City retained the Premiership title at the expense of Liverpool by beating Aston Villa 3-2 on Sunday on a breathless final day, after trailing 2-0 with 15 minutes to go.
The Reds dominated Wolverhampton in vain (3-1), after conceding the first goal after 3 minutes. They are one point behind their rivals, trailing 12 at the start of 2022. A week before the C1 final against Real Madrid, they are saying goodbye to their dream of quadrupling, after their victories in the FA Cups and the league.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City had so far always won their 38th matchday matches and were therefore favorites to kick off the final round. But like an exciting season, the final day, which could only make one happy between two teams that would have made great champions, was full of tension, tension and contrasting emotions.
In fact, City are almost a miracle, a bit like a decade ago, when Sergio Aguero offered him his first league title with a goal in added time against QPR (3-2). The Skyblues didn’t lead widely after 69 minutes as Aston Villa, coached by Steven Gerrard, emblematic captain of the Reds in the 2000s, led 2-0 on goals from Matty Cash (37th) and Brazilian Philippe Countinho, another former Anfield Road (69th).
Pep Guardiola’s men have struggled so far to threaten Robin Olsen’s cages. But Gundogan, who came into play just before the Villans’ second goal, changed the course of the game. The German narrowed the deficit (2-1, 76th) before Rodri equalized two minutes later. The Etihad capsized definitively when Gundogan scored the winning goal (81st), putting the Citizens out of reach of Liverpool.
Cruel epilogue for Liverpool
Without Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah spared at kick-off, they were surprised by Pedro Neto, well served by Raul Jimenez (0-1, 3rd). Sadio Mane quickly took the pick-up (1-1, 24th) but it wasn’t until the last ten minutes for Salah, who came into play in the 58th minute, to take the lead (2-1, 84th) and Andy Robertson widens the gap (3-1, 89th).
They will now be looking for a hat-trick in the cups, having won the FA and League Cup, when they face Real Madrid in six days’ time in Paris for the Champions League final.
Tottenham in C1, Burnley relegated
Behind that, Chelsea took third by beating the relegated Watford (2-1), and it was Tottenham who won the fourth ticket to the C1 by crushing the latter, Norwich (5-0). Scorer of two, Son Heung-min (4-0, 70th and 5-0, 75th) finished top scorer of the season on a par with Salah (23 goals). Arsenal, 5th, will have to settle for the Europa League despite their big win over Everton (5-1) who had secured their midweek maintenance.
Manchester United are also very lucky to go to C3. Defeated at Crystal Palace (1-0), the Red Devils only retained 6th place thanks to West Ham’s defeat at Brighton when they led 1-0 on a goal by Mikhail Antonio shortly before half-time. The Hammers play the Europa League Conference.
At the bottom of the standings, Leeds narrowly saved their place in the top flight. On a par with Burnley for the day, but with a much worse goal difference, Marcelo Bielsa’s former club won 2-1 at Brentford on a penalty from former Rennais Raphinha (58th) and a goal from Jack Harrisson after extra time (90). +4), while Brentford had equalized by Sergi Canos (78th).
At the same time, Burnley could do nothing at home against Newcastle and a brace from Callum Wilson, author of the 1-0 in the 20th, on penalty, then 2-0 in the 61st, despite the score cut with Maxwel Cornet 20 minutes from time.
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