Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 2
Manchester City have one hand on the Premier League title after Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres fired them to victory at Crystal Palace.
Embed from Getty ImagesPalace had prevented the league leaders from having a shot on target until the 57th minute when the Aguero broke the deadlock with a moment of magic.
It was the longest they had gone without a shot on target in a game but Ferran Torres hit City’s second in quick succession to notch up 700 goals in 288 games under Pep Guardiola, 157 more than the next Premier League club.
And victory means that the Premier League title could be City’s as soon as tomorrow evening if, ironically, Liverpool beat Manchester United at Old Trafford.
“What a goal, what a player, what a man!” said Guardiola of Aguero, who also confirmed he was fit to face PSG on Tuesday.
“We are delighted he’s back and we will enjoy the last games with him. He showed with the goal what he is. He is an incredible guy.”
City made eight changes to the side that faced Paris St Germain in Paris last week, with the return leg to come on Tuesday.
Only Ederson, Joao Cancelo, and Rodri stayed in the side as Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling were just two of the players to start at Selhurst Park.
After an understandably slow start from a largely second string City side their first real chance came after 10 minutes when Ferran Torres shot was bravely blocked by Tyrick Mitchell and went behind for a corner.
Sterling’s shot was blocked by Mitchell after he went past two defenders but delayed his shot too long after a long pass put him through after 18 minutes.
Aguero and Jesus went close shortly afterwards as Palace lived dangerously.
But Palace had the best chance of the first half with Ederson saving from Christian Benteke after great approach wrk by Andros Townsend after 28 minutes.
Gabriel Jesus scored after 36 minutes but the offside flag was up after the striker was well offside as Fernandinho put the ball in, which was confirmed by a swift VAR check.
Aguero sent a shot wide under pressure from Luka Milivojevic before Eberechi Eze put one wide of the back post himself.
City thought they had found a way through after the break when Torres lifted a ball into the six yard box towards Gabriel Jesus but Scott Dann cleared over his own bar before the ball reached him.
Sergio Aguero rolls back the years to break the deadlock at Selhurst Park for the first – and last – time for Manchester City
But Sergio Aguero finally managed to notch up a goal at Selhurst Park for the first time in his City career on his last appearance there with with Blues, lifting the ball past Vincente Guaita on the half volley after 57 minutes for his 4th goal of the season after taking a touch to control Benjamin Mendy’s cross.
And Torres got a quick fire deserved second 83 seconds later after getting on the end of a square ball from Raheem Sterling for his 10th goal of the season, the 6th City player to reach that mark – City’s 700th goal in 288 matches under Guardiola.
Sterling hit the post with Torres putting the rebound wide and a Laporte effort was blocked on the line by Benteke.
Oleksandr Zinchenko replaced Fernandinho after 67 minutes, while Jean-Philippe Mateta came on for Benteke.
Joao Cancelo had a cross parried away by Guaita, but could have scored a superb goal shortly afterwards but curled his shot wide of the back post after Torres had back heeled the ball to him.
By this time City were cruising and despite another glaring miss for the out of sorts Sterling the ‘champagne was in the fridge’ according to Guardiola.
GOALS – Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 2
Crystal Palace 0, Man City 1: 57. Sergio Aguero struck with a rising shot on the half volley from Benjamin Mendy’s pass.
Crystal Palace 0, Man City 2: 59. Ferran Torres hit City’s second after latching onto Raheem Sterling’s pass.
MATCH STATS – Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 2
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Kouyate, Dann, Mitchell, Riedewald (Schlupp 60), Milivojevic, Eze, Townsend (Jordan Ayew 82), Zaha, Benteke (Mateta 67)
Crystal Palace subs not used: Butland, van Aanholt, McCarthy, Batshuayi, Cahill, Kelly
Bookings: Millivojevic 49 (foul on Ferran Torres); Kouyate 81 (foul on Raheem Sterling)
Man City: Ederson, Cancelo, Ake, Laporte, Mendy, Fernandinho (Zinchenko 67), Rodri, Torres, Jesus, Sterling, Aguero
Man City subs not used: Steffen, Walker, Dias, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Foden
Goals: Aguero 57; Torres 59
Referee: David Coote