Man City vs Chelsea result

In an all-Premier-League third-round tie that has been a match-up in cup finals in recent years (and City’s pre-kick-off light and music show teed this up as a big occasion), it ended 2-0. Though the home side had the majority of the shots, the Blues made some big chances but came up against a good goalkeeping performance on the night.

Edou Mendy was kept busy as well but was beaten by a deflected free-kick from Riyad Mahrez before Julian Alvarez netted to make it a steep uphill challenge for Graham Potter’s men, one that could not be overcome.

There was Man City danger from Jack Grealish at the start and the end of a first half in which the home side kept our defence busy as they worked the wide areas well, but Chelsea were carrying a threat on the counter-attack.

Christian Pulisic was busy and drew one of two difficult saves just before half-time out of Stefan Ortega Moreno in the City goal.

The second was from close range to deny Chelsea Academy player Lewis Hall his first goal on his second appearance and after the Blues had fallen behind, it was Hall who came as close as anyone to reducing the deficit, seeing another decent strike saved.

The introduction of Raheem Sterling against his former club late on, plus our hero of Porto against Man City, Kai Havertz, could not conjure up a goal, so it is to the Premier League we now look with one more game to come before the World Cup.

The selection

Both sides rotated heavily from their weekend league action and for Chelsea that meant seven changes, with a completely different attack from the Arsenal game and a back-three defence. Mateo Kovacic, playing his 200th Chelsea game, was captain.

First-half stalemate despite shots

Two months later than is usual, tonight’s match represented the start of the first domestic knockout trophy campaign for both these sides and for Chelsea, the chance of a lift after the Arsenal defeat. Midweek matches had produced good results of late.

However City made the early running, with Mendy surviving an early scare and Trevoh Chalobah making an important block as Grealish attacked.

Armando Broja shot ambitiously but over the target at the other end, before Grealish responded with an effort just wide.

Lewis Hall’s previous appearance for the Chelsea men’s first team had come in a back-three in the FA Cup in January but he made a promising start to his deployment at left wing-back tonight, with a penetrating run from his own half that won a free-kick. He would repeat it later in the game.

Soon after, with just over 10 minutes played, we could have taken the lead had Christian Pulisic not scuffed his shot while being challenged when picked out in the middle by Hakim Ziyech.

After Kalidou Koulibaly had conceded a free-kick in a dangerous spot, Denis Zakaria’s head in the centre of the wall flicked Ilkay Gundogan’s attempt over the bar. Fresh from being named in the Swiss World Cup squad, the midfielder then set the visitors on the attack again with some tidy play out of his own half.

Best first-half chances

City were dominating possession, but there were some moments of quality on the ball by Chelsea, none more so than midway through the first half when Pulisic cut in on the run and forced the best save of the game so far from Ortega.

There was big danger at the other end when our defence left Alvarez unattended to receive Gundogan’s cross, but Koulibaly managed to interfere with the striker’s shot sufficiently.

After that flurry of chances at either end, the rest of the half rather faded away apart from City looking dangerous on a couple of occasions when attacking down our left. That was until one more Grealish strike that forced Mendy into a diving stop.

Just before half-time came the first big save from Hall, after Pulisic had penetrated the City midfield and the youngster left Rico Lewis wrong-footed, but Ortega made a good stop with an out-stretched leg.

Blues go behind

There was sloppiness at the start of the second half from Chelsea, but Marc Cucurella got an important foot in to thwart Mahrez when he was about to test Mendy.

Grealish then did, twice, but our goalie was up to the challenge and saved on both occasions, however Man City did find the net soon after.

Chalobah this time conceded the free-kick but unlike near the start of the first half, the deflection off the wall did not play out in our favour, a touch off Broja helping Mahrez’s shot past Mendy.

A sweet Ziyech strike after a corner was cleared his way was not that far away from quickly tying the scores, but just five minutes after they had gone ahead, Pep Guardiola’s side doubled their lead.

A switch of play quickly from left to right gave Mahrez the chance to shoot, which Mendy saved, but Alvarez was first to the loose ball and we had just over half-an-hour left to overcome a two-goal deficit.

Mendy saved from Cole Palmer to prevent that becoming greater but then Ziyech found the advanced Hall for another shot on target. Though partially unsighted, Ortega still saved, leaving our 18-year-old with his hands on his head.

The frustration of the second half was summed up in the final minutes, when after the ball flew around the City area, with a Sterling shot blocked on the line, a post struck and the ball eventually going in off a Man City player, the offside flag went up.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Mendy; Chalobah (Azpilicueta 69), Koulibaly, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek, Zakaria (Gallagher 69), Kovacic (c), Hall (Havertz 76); Ziyech (Sterling 69), Broja (Mount 69), Pulisic.

Unused subs Bettinelli, Thiago Silva, Hutchinson, Aubameyang.

Booked Koulibaly 18, Chalobah 52, Azpilicueta 89

Man City (4-2-3-1):Ortega Moreno; Lewis, Dias, Laporte (Ake 81), Gomez; Rodri (Phillips 50), Gundogan (c) (Bernardo 50); Palmer, Mahrez, Grealish; Alvarez.

Unused subs Ederson, Stones, Haaland, De Bruyne, Akanji, Foden.

Scorers Mahrez 53, Alvarez 58

Booked Grealish 89

Referee Simon Hooper

What time are Man City vs Chelsea highlights available?

The match highlights are available to view on chelseafc.com from 1am UK time on Thursday 10 November, with the match in full also available on demand from that time.

Chelsea fixtures - what's next?

Just one game to go now until the World Cup break and it is back to the Premier League this weekend when we take on third-place Newcastle.

Next fixture: Newcastle United vs Chelsea

• Date: 12 November 2022

• Kick off time: 5.30pm UK time

• Location: St James' Park