Manchester City took all three points in a well-contested game at Elland Road, as the away side ran out 3-1 winners with a goal from Rodri and a brace from Erling Haaland.
City started the game well and looked to dominate possession. Leeds setting up in a 4-3-3 formation looked to be compact and frustrate the visitors. Jack Grealish went close on a number of occasions but lacked the killer touch to put the ball in the net. Illan Meslier was in fine form to deny Haaland as the giant Norwegian raced through on goal only to see his low drive blocked by the keeper’s knee. A gritty and dogged display from the hosts limited City throughout the first half with only a few half-chances going their way. However, the visitors eventually broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time and it was a counter-attack, as Leeds made a rare foray forward. Kevin De Bruyne crossed to Riyad Mahrez whose shot was well saved by Meslier but the rebound was prodded under the keeper’s arm by Rodri. It was certainly deserved as City had dominated and had the lion’s share of the chances. The half ended 0-1.
The second half started much like the first with City looking the most likely to get the next goal. It was indeed 2-0 on 51 minutes when a mix-up at the back between Liam Cooper and Robin Koch saw the latter, ball-watching as Cooper played a simple pass to his partner. Grealish nipped in to steal possession, he raced through on goal and played a square pass to Haaland for a simple tap in into an empty net, 0-2. A mountain to climb now for the home side.
The second goal gave the home side a kick up the proverbial backside, and it was now the hosts that started to look a little more threatening going forward. Sam Greenwood had a free-kick blocked by the wall. Brenden Aaronson jinxed into the box but his shot went high and wide and then Willy Gnonto, arguably the Whites best player on the pitch was starting to cause problems as he began to force the issue out wide and cut in from the left. Just as soon as the hosts looked a tougher test for City, they went up the field and make it 3. A nice one-two between Haaland and Grealish, with the ball set up perfectly for the goal machine to lash a shot past Meslier with the Frenchman getting a hand to the ball but not enough to stop the effort, 0-3.
A flurry of substitutes from both sides saw Joe Gelhardt, Diego Llorente and Luke Ayling enter the field and with 74 minutes on the clock, Leeds get one back. A superb inswinging corner from Greenwood is glanced on by Pascal Struijk past Ederson into the net as Elland Road erupts. The home side is now full of optimism and the crowd can sense it. Minutes later, the hosts are so unfortunate to not score another. Aaronson finds Greenwood down the left-hand side and his low cross into the box is prodded goalwards by Joe Gelhardt only to see the ball trickle agonisingly wide of Ederson’s post. The home side go close again, this time another Greenwood free-kick. A superb run from Gnonto again causes problems and City can do nothing but foul the youngster on the edge of the box. Greenwood’s effort goes just over as the home side start to gain some momentum.
As the game entered stoppage time, Leeds should have made it two. Ayling sending a cross into Gelhardt at the near post but his effort is well blocked by Nathan Ake as he diverted it around the post for a corner. The home side rallied but the full-time whistle blew with City’s class and quality outdoing Leeds United’s grit and determination. There were plenty of positives to be taken from the game and Jesse Marsch won’t be too hard on his players as they prepare for another tough test at Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.