Manchester City took the next step towards winning the Premier League again with two goals from Ilkay Gundogan and were in good form for a long time before the Champions League hit at Real Madrid. The English football champions defeated Leeds United 2-1 (2-0) on Saturday.
Even without a goal from striker Erling Haaland, City extended their lead in the table to four points ahead of Arsenal after 34 games with their tenth league success in a row. On Tuesday, coach Pep Guardiola's team will visit Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League (21:00 CET on the F.A.Z. live ticker for the Champions League and on Prime Video).
Two goals in eight minutes
National player Gündogan scored for the Cityzens with his fifth and sixth goals of the season to give them a 2-0 half-time lead. The former Bundesliga player scored with a well-placed shot from around 15 metres after a pass from Riyad Mahrez to make it 1-0 (19th minute).
Eight minutes later, Mahrez scored again, this time the 32-year-old scored into the left corner (27th). The former Dortmund player missed a possible third goal with a foul penalty: Gündogan's attempt went to the post (84th). Leeds were able to shorten the lead to 1-2 through Rodrigo (85th), but City took the narrow lead over time.
Meanwhile, former Champions League winners Chelsea FC achieved their first win under coach returnee Frank Lampard. After six games without success, the Blues won 3-1 (1-1) at AFC Bournemouth, but remain stuck in eleventh place in the league midfield. Conor Gallagher (9'), Benoît Badiashile (82') and João Félix (86') scored for Kai Havertz's team.