Stoke City 0-2 Manchester City: David Silva Scores A Brace As Pep’s Men Edge Closer To The Title
A brace from David Silva was enough for Manchester City to beat an imperilled Stoke City side. With the help of a 2-0 scoreline, they restored their 16-point lead and are inching closer to the title. They made easy work of Stoke City, who couldn’t come out of their half for the most part of the game. Aguero’s absence didn’t hurt the Manchester club as Jesus provided the goods.
For the first goal, he spread it out to Raheem Sterling down the right, who then played in a fine-tuned cross to the approaching David Silva. Fernandinho had a couple of opportunities to add to his season’s tally whereas Sterling could have added a third late on but selfishly went for it himself instead of pulling it back to Jesus. Stoke had their best chance when Kyle Walker’s clearance almost landed in his own net. Overall, it was yet another authoritative show by the champions-elect.
Manchester City Player Ratings
Ederson: 8/10
Another easy outing for the Golden glove aspirant. He made the routine saves, was alert and passed the ball around with minimal fuss.
Kyle Walker: 7.5/10
Left his defensive area open a couple of times but fortunately, wasn’t punished. Otherwise, he was alright at the back. Going forward, Kyle Walker was as pacy and effervescent as ever.
Vincent Kompany: 8/10
Played with the same intensity and fervour as usual and set up a formidable back line. As expected, Kompany was unbeatable in the air.
Nicolas Otamendi: 8/10
Did what he has been doing all season long and tackled sharply. Otamendi outmuscled the opposition and played out a couple of lovely diagonals.
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7.5/10
Defended with a high line and spent most of his time in the midfield, passing it around and keeping the flow of attack going.
Fernandinho: 8/10
Took City’s attack to the opposition, was energetic in the middle, won tackles and interceptions, showed fine vision with his passing and kept it in his side’s favour for most parts of the game.
Kevin De Bruyne: 8.5/10
One could run out of adjectives to describe his heroics. It’s absolutely wonderful when he performs so consistently week in week out, without too many breathers. He completed a routine world-class display by picking out his teammates with the best of passes. He pressed Stoke and added quality in Man City’s final third.
David Silva: 9.5/10
Kept hold of the ball, played cheeky little passes down various channels, brought all the forward men together and summed it up with two well-taken goals. A man of the match performance by the little magician.
Raheem Sterling: 8.5/10
Sterling was flamboyant and explosive. He created exciting moments for himself, including a marvellous solo run that was almost a goal. His pass for Silva’s first was innovative and high-octane.
Leroy Sane: 7.5/10
Freed up De Bruyne and Jesus, stretched the Stoke backline, ran at defenders and expressed his pace to the fullest quantity. However, the final ball lacked proficiency.
Gabriel Jesus: 8/10
Played a major hand in both the goals, involved himself in the build-up play and attacked the ball well whenever required. He’s slowly coming back to his supreme best.
Substitutes
Bernardo Silva: N/A
Played too little to be judged.
Ilkay Gundogan: N/A
Came on just to eat up the final few seconds.