Manchester City 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City fell to a crushing home defeat in the Premier League shock of the weekend, as a late Adama Traore double gave Wolves a deserved victory.
The loss means City now trail Liverpool by eight points at the top of the league, while Wolves are climbing away from the drop zone.
The last time Manchester City played at home in the Premier League they destroyed Watford 8-0; but they rarely tested a Wolves defence which was brilliantly organised and up for the challenge.
The Premier League 2019 betting odds have stayed with the Sky Blues so far, but surely Liverpool is now the team to beat.
Highlights of the game
When yesterday’s Premier League 2019 updates rolled in, Sky Blue fans will have winced at the news that Liverpool had snatched a controversial last minute win over Leicester City and they would have hoped for an immediate response. But the reigning champions offered very little in the opening 45 minutes, and could easily have gone into the break behind.
Patrick Cutrone came in for his second Premier League start for Wolves and he had a glorious chance in the fifth minute. Joao Moutinho split the City defence with a through ball to put Cutrone clean through, but the striker shot wide with only Ederson to beat.
Joao Cancelo made his first start for Manchester City and he did his best to create something for the hosts, raiding down the left and crossing. Will Boly headed clear and the ball dropped for Riyad Mahrez who hammered a volley back in which was headed away by Conor Coady.
Then Wolves came so close to taking the lead when Fernandinho cleared a Raul Jiminez effort and when Cutrone fired it back in the defender, still on the ground, somehow managed to head it to safety.
Wolves keeper Rui Patricio finally had a shot to save, on the half hour, when Sterling had an effort from 20 yards and then, as City started to come alive, Coady made a brilliant clearance after Sergio Aguero had put the ball in the danger area; and that was as close as City came in the first half.
But while everyone in the ground expected a higher tempo at the start of the second half it didn’t come, and Guardiola hooked Mahrez on the hour, bringing on Bernardo Silva. That move did seem to liven up the Sky Blues, and when a chance came with a free-kick, David Silva came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock, smashing his shot against the crossbar. Moments later, he fired one over after Sterling had seen his shot blocked. City were inching closer and Wolves survived miraculously when Bernardo Silva’s shot from eight yards was blocked by Aguero and flew to safety. It just seemed like a matter of time, but when the goal came on 80 minutes, it was an almighty shock.
As Wolves broke at pace Raul Jiminez squared the ball for Traore; and, coolly as you like, he slotted it home from the edge of the box.
The Etihad fell silent.
Jesus tried to lift spirits with a tricky run and shot but Patricio was equal to it. And the superb Wolves defence was equal to everything City could throw at them, dealing with crosses at ease.
And before the final whistle the Etihad Stadium began to empty when Traore scored his second, a replica of the first, taking a pass from Jiminez and firing into the bottom corner.
It’s a long way back for City now.
Key statistics
Wolves have made a sticky start to this Premier League season, with Europa League fixtures coming thick and fast, and I thought they were set up for a hiding at the Etihad today.
But in a first half in which City looked woefully out of sorts Rui Patricio only had two shots to save. Mind you…that was two more than Ederson at the other end.
While the Sky Blues lacked a cutting edge, Wolves hit them twice on the break late on and the result is all the more remarkable when you look at City’s home record.
They have won 17 in the last 19 at the Etihad, scoring 70 and conceding ten.
Wolves escaped from Turkey on Thursday with a 0-1 win over Besiktas when Will Boly scored with the last kick of the match, and that was a huge result for Nuno’s team which is now gathering nice momentum.
What’s next?
Pep Guardiola takes his floundering title-chasers to Selhurst Park for another serious test, against Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace. The Eagles are flying up in sixth place, and only two points behind City.
Wolves have a home game against Southampton, who were hammered 1-4 by Chelsea today.
Well guys, after all that we’ll take a breather from domestic footy. But in the meantime, here at SBOBET we’ll be across all the latest news over the International break, with previews, betting tips and all the international highlights as they happen.
The top class football just keeps on coming!
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