Match Report: Manchester City 4-0 Chelsea (Emirates FA Cup third round)

Manchester City beat Chelsea for the second time in a week with a comprehensive home victory to ensure safe passage into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Following on from Thursday night’s 1-0 win in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, City hosted Graham Potter’s side for an FA Cup encounter on Sunday afternoon.

The game started in a very cagey manner just like the previous meeting between the two Premier League sides but it sprang into life as Riyad Mahrez fired City into the lead from a perfectly-taken free-kick.

Julian Alvarez then added a second from the spot following a Kai Havertz handball before City’s homegrown star Phil Foden also got on the scoresheet with a close-range effort.

There was not much of note in the second half with the game coming into a real lull for the majority of the minutes, but a fourth goal was added late on by Mahrez from another penalty, to complete the rout.

The result means that Pep Guardiola’s side are still fighting on all four fronts, with City still partaking in all three cup competitions while they chase down leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.

Following kick-off, the game soon developed into a fraught encounter, devoid of any real action in the first 15 minutes.

Yet the match bounced to life when Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez combined in a lightning-quick attack for the home side which was cut short by the referee due to a foul on Kalidou Koulibaly.

Riyad Mahrez then broke the deadlock by scoring an absolutely stunning free-kick from distance, picking his spot in the top right corner of the net.

The goal means that the Algerian winger has now scored in all three matches against Chelsea this season, after netting in both the Carabao Cup match in November and Thursday’s league clash.

SENSATIONAL. 😍🇩🇿 @Mahrez22 pic.twitter.com/hOi8DGWmpN

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 8, 2023

City were then awarded a penalty following a clear and obvious handball by Kai Havertz, the man who famously scored the winner past the Cityzens in the 2021 Champions League final.

Returning from the 2022 Qatar World Cup as a gold medal winner, Julian Alvarez converted the spot kick to ensure a goal on his first start since his Argentinian adventure.

Mahrez then took a second free-kick but saw his effort saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga after the Spaniard had been looking shaky in the early exchanges.

This return to calm did not last long for Chelsea’s goalkeeper as City soon claimed a third, as Foden pounced on Kyle Walker’s pass to tap in and extend the home side’s lead.

This ensured that City took a strong lead into the break, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Play resumed and little changed from the opening 45 minutes with Guardiola’s side continuing to dominate the ball and proceedings.

The Catalan coach then substituted Rodri and Sergio Gomez for Kalvin Phillips and Joao Cancelo to provide fresh legs in the City team.

After a mundane half, Mahrez went close to adding another goal to his name from distance, but saw his shot go wide of Arrizabalaga’s goal.

Just as the game looked like it was grinding to a halt, a clumsy challenge on Foden by Koulibaly resulted in City’s second penalty of the game.

Mahrez stepped up and confidently struck home the ball, ending an unwanted run of missed penalties.

Rico Lewis was then brought on for Bernardo Silva as the Premier League champions closed out for a comprehensive win.

City are next in action on Wednesday when they take on Southampton in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

They will face either Arsenal or Oxford United in the next round of the FA Cup with the two southern sides set to play each other on Monday evening.