Benjamin Mendy returns as Manchester City celebrate title in style
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ByEurosport
Updated 22/04/2018 at 17:56 GMT
Premier League, Etihad Stadium - Manchester City 5 (D. Silva 12', Sterling 16', De Bruyne 54', B. Silva 64', Jesus 88')
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates scoring his side's third goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2018 in Manchester, England.
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Premier League champions Manchester City gave their fans a superb display of attacking football as they routed Swansea City 5-0 at the Etihad, with full-back Benjamin Mendy making his long-awaited return from a serious lay-off.
City, who were crowned champions last weekend when Manchester United lost 1-0 to West Brom, made sure they celebrated their title victory in style.
The hosts broke the deadlock in typical fashion when Kevin De Bruyne’s defence-splitting pass slipped through Sterling, he played a clever cut-back to find David Silva and the Spaniard volleyed home from 15 yards to cap a free-flowing move.
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Manchester City's Spanish midfielder David Silva celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Swansea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 22, 2018.
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Only four minutes later, Sterling and David Silva combined once more to deadly effect. This time David Silva turned provider as he exchanged passes with Fabian Delph before the left-back crossed for Sterling who was left with a simple tap-in. It was his 23rd goal of the season.
After the break, De Bruyne made it three with one of the goals of the season. The Belgian launched a missile at goal from 25 yards straight into the top corner and though Lukasz Fabianski watched the ball all the way, the Swansea goalkeeper couldn’t keep it out.
Bernardo Silva grabbed City’s fourth of the afternoon when he reacted quickest after Gabriel Jesus’ penalty-kick was tipped onto the post by Fabianski.
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Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
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Jesus had suffered a frustrating day in front of goal but his persistence was finally rewarded when he registered on the scoresheet in the closing stages with a lovely cushioned header from substitute Yaya Toure’s chipped pass.
City also welcomed back Mendy in the second-half, with the left-back receiving a standing ovation as he took to the field for the first time in over 200 days.
TALKING POINT
How many points will Man City finish with? They need 10 points from their final four games to become the first team in history to reach 100 points and just two more wins to set a new record of most points in a Premier League season.
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Manchester City's Spanish midfielder David Silva (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with Manchester City's English midfielder Raheem Sterling (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Swansea at the Etihad Stadi
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A quick look at their remaining fixtures suggest both records are very achievable: West Ham (a), Huddersfield (h), Brighton (h) and Southampton (a). And who would bet against Pep Guardiola’s side accumulating an amazing total of 102 points?
MAN OF THE MATCH
Kevin De Bruyne (Man City): He may end up being beaten to the Player of the Season award by the phenomenal Mo Salah but in any other season the Belgian would have already landed the coveted prize. De Bruyne produced yet another sensational performance which was topped off with one of the finest strikes you will see this season.
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Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City shoots and scores his side's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2018 in Manchester, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Man City: Ederson, Danilo, Kompany, Laporte, Delph, Gündogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Silva, Sterling, Jesus. Subs: Mendy 5, Toure 6, Foden 7.
Swansea: Fabianski 5, Naughton 5, Van der Hoorn 5, Fernandez 5, Mawson 5, Olsson 5, Ki 5, King 5, Carroll 5, A Ayew 5, J Ayew 5. Subs: Bartley 5, Clucas 5, Abraham 5.
KEY MOMENTS
12’ - GOAL! Man City 1-0 Swansea: David Silva with a lovely goal! De Bruyne cuts open the Swansea defence with a beautiful through-pass to Sterling. His clever cutback finds David Silva and he takes one touch before rifling a low shot into the bottom corner.
16’ - GOAL! Man City 2-0 Swansea: It's far too easy for Man City. Delph exchanges an excellent one-two with David Silva before drilling a low ball across the face of goal, leaving Sterling with a simple tap-in.
54’ - GOAL! Man City 3-0 Swansea: And what a goal! Kevin De Bruyne, take a bow! The Belgian launches a missile at goal from 25 yards, Fabianski sees it all of the way but can't keep it out.
62’ - PENALTY TO MAN CITY! Sterling is brought down inside the box by Fernandez and Craig Pawson immediately points to the spot.
64’ – GOAL! Man City 4-0 Swansea: Jesus' penalty is pushed onto the post by Fabianski but Bernardo Silva is quickest to react to the loose ball and scores with aplomb.
74’ – MENDY IS BACK! Mendy makes his first appearance since September! He replaces Sterling.
88’ – GOAL! Man City 5-0 Swansea: It's been a frustrating afternoon for Jesus in front of goal but now the Brazilian finally registers on the scoresheet! He makes a clever run behind the Swansea defence to meet Toure's glorious chipped pass and loops the header over Fabianski.
KEY STATS
- Benjamin Mendy played in his first Premier League game since September 23th 2017 (211 days ago).
- Kevin De Bruyne has now scored five goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season; the most of any player.
- Manchester City completed 542 passes in the first half against Swansea; the most by any team in a half of football in the Premier League since 2003/04.
- Raheem Sterling has scored 18 goals in the Premier League this season; twice as many as he did in his previous best campaign (9 for Liverpool in 2013/14).
- David Silva has been directly involved in 20+ goals in a Premier League season for the first time since 2011-12 (21).
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