MANCHESTER CITY 5, SWANSEA CITY 0
After winning the third Premier League title in six years on their sofas following Manchester United’s unexpected defeat to West Brom last weekend Manchester City laid on a special game as a gift for fans who gave the Etihad a party atmosphere and were rewarded with more champagne football as the Blues thrashed Swansea 5-0.
Goals by David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Gabriel Jesus secured City’s fourth five goal winning home margin this season.
Pep Guardiola made two changes to the side which beat Spurs last weekend. Danilo and Bernardo Silva replaced Kyle Walker and Leroy Sane.
http://gty.im/950023178
City were on their way after just 11 minutes – Kevin De Bruyne’s ball to Raheem Sterling was cut back by the England winger to the onrushing David Silva who finished with aplomb to become the sixth City player into double figures this season with his tenth strike this term.
Five minutes later Sterling was handed a tap-in from 6 yards out following a left wing cross by Fabian Delph – the makeshift left-back once again shining in the role after a 1-2 with Silva before notching his 23rd of the season.
City were totally dominant in the first half, hardly giving the Swans a chance and hogging over 80 percent of the ball.
City turned on the style after the break as Swansea dropped deeper, but De Bruyne found some space and unleashed a rocket from 25 yards after 54 minutes – his 12th goal of the season and his fifth from outside the box – more than any other player this season as City looked to smash records before the embers of the season cooled off.
Raheem Sterling won a penalty less than 10 minutes later after falling over Federico Fernandez’ sliding tackle in the area. Gabriel Jesus stepped up to take the spot kick but it was palmed against his post by Lucasz Fabianski but Bernardo Silva was first to the rebound and make it 4-0 to a jubilant City – only his eighth strike of the season.
It was a time for celebration all round for City as Pep Guardiola opted for a succession of popular changes with the game well won.
Yaya Toure, Phil Foden, and Benjamin Mendy all came on as the party atmosphere amplified. Whether City legend, local hero, or a long term injury victim this season each were given rousing receptions as De Bruyne, Sterling, and Delph had a rest on the bench.
City turned the screw on the Swans but were unable extend their lead after some great passing and movement against the stunned visitors – none of whom recorded more passes in 90 minutes than Foden did in 29 (21 passes).
Alfie Mawson’s defensive header came off his own post, Vincent Kompany’s header went wide, and Foden’s cross was directed straight to Fabianski by Jesus, while the youngster couldn’t quite control a cross by Mendy in front of goal as City chased a fifth.
The cherry on top came two minutes from the end when Jesus got the goal he craved after Toure rolled back the years – sending a long pass looping into the area to find the diving striker six yards out and in the air to direct a header past Fabianski.
Title celebrated in style, then, and a pitch invasion by City fans who were clearly elated by the final winning margin with a succession of records ready to topple in the remaining four games.
City had maintained a staggering 83% of possession against an unambitious Swansea side. They had attempted 1015 passes – the first team to achieve that since records began in 2003/04 – completing 942 of them, and fired in 19 shots, 12 on target to Swansea’s 4, with 1 on target.
The five goal victory sparked a good natured pitch invasion at the end of the game, but the Premier League trophy won’t be handed over until the end of the Huddersfield Town home game in 2 weeks.