Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City: De Bruyne stars as Guardiola’s side cruise to victory

Manchester City impressively overcame the absence of key first-team players due to coronavirus as they eased to a 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Pep Guardiola’s side had their game at Everton postponed earlier this week due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the club, one that left them without six squad members for their first match of 2021.

But City, who handed a league debut to goalkeeper Zack Steffen, were three up inside 34 minutes thanks to strikes from Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and star of the show Kevin De Bruyne.

Callum Hudson-Odoi scored a late consolation for Chelsea but that was the only disappointment for the visitors, who made it three league wins in a row to move up to fifth in the table, within four points of top spot with a game in hand. Chelsea, meanwhile, remain down in eighth position.

City started without a recognised striker and it was Gundogan who was in the most advanced position when turning away from Thiago Silva to fire past Edouard Mendy for the opener.

A second goal followed for Guardiola’s side 157 seconds later, Foden sweeping home De Bruyne’s low cross at the front post following a poor sliding clearance from Thiago Silva in the build-up.

De Bruyne rounded off a swift counter that he started near his own box for City’s third, the playmaker converting from close range after Raheem Sterling’s shot came back off the post.

Gundogan went close to doubling his tally with a smart flick that drifted inches wide of the far post and Rodri’s header was well saved by Mendy after half-time as City pushed for a fourth.

They could not quite hold on for a sixth clean sheet in seven league outings, however, as Hudson-Odoi converted fellow substitute Kai Havertz’s delivery at the back post from the final meaningful act of the match.