Manchester City dug deep to rescue a crucial point in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
A below-average Man City team needed a late Rodri strike to salvage a point against Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
Manchester City vs Chelsea: Guardiola’s men stumble in title race
Manchester City came into this game on an 11-game winning run, aiming to make it 12, against a Chelsea side that have shown vulnerabilities away from home all season.
Instead, the visitors took the initiative with ex-City boy Raheem Sterling scoring 5 minutes before half time to silence the Etihad crowd.
Determined to find a swift response, Guardiola’s side came flying out the blocks in the early stages of the second half, but Kevin De Bruyne could only bend a sublime free-kick inches over the bar.
Manchester City’s persistent pressure bore fruit in the dying minutes as Rodri seized on a loose ball, unleashing a powerful strike past Đorđe Petrović.
The late goal set the stage for an intense finale, but despite sustained pressure from the hosts, Chelsea’s defense stood resilient, earning a well-deserved point in the end.
