Manchester City Maintains Title Chase with Commanding 3-0 Victory Over Chelsea

Manchester City delivered a statement performance at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, defeating Chelsea 3-0 to maintain their pursuit of Arsenal in the Premier League title race. The victory keeps Pep Guardiola's side just two points behind the league leaders with 12 matches remaining.

Erling Haaland was the star of the show, scoring twice in the first half to take his season tally to 28 goals in all competitions. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a clinical finish after being played through by Kevin De Bruyne, then doubled the lead just before halftime with a towering header from Phil Foden's cross.

De Bruyne was instrumental throughout, pulling the strings in midfield and creating numerous chances for his teammates. The Belgian midfielder capped off his performance with a stunning long-range strike in the 73rd minute, curling the ball into the top corner from 25 yards to seal the victory.

"Kevin was absolutely magnificent today," Guardiola said in his post-match interview. "His vision, his passing, his goal – this is why he's one of the best midfielders in the world. Erling was clinical as always, and the team showed great intensity from the first minute."

Chelsea, despite their recent upturn in form under new management, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against City's organized defense. The Blues managed just three shots on target throughout the 90 minutes, with Thiago Silva and Reece James both going close with headers from set pieces.

The result leaves Chelsea in eighth place, six points behind the European qualification spots, while City's victory sets up a tantalizing title race finale. With Arsenal facing Liverpool next weekend, City will be hoping their rivals drop points as the season enters its crucial phase. The Citizens' next test comes away to Newcastle United, where they'll look to maintain their perfect record in 2026.