Manchester City vs. Burnley, Premier League: Final Score 3-0, City extend winning streak with strong victory

Manchester City extended their winning streak in all competitons to 11 in a row thanks to a 3-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday. The Blues had a tough match as expected, but managed to break down the Clarets defense in crucial moments and score enough goals to get another win and remain on top of the Premier League.

FIRST HALF

The beginning of the game was a little poor from the Blues, who struggled to put together good passing sequences and constantly wasted good chances because of bad passing and decision-making. Burnley also made things tough with their defensive structure, and it took a while for City to get into a rhythm.

But the Blues began to find spaces thanks to Leroy Sané and David Silva on the left flank, and that’s where most of the good chances came. Bernardo Silva also began to get involved in the play, and he won City a penalty thanks to a poor challenge from Burnley keeper Nick Pope. Sergio Agüero easily buried the spot kick, put City ahead and scored his 177th goal as a Citizen, equaling Eric Brook’s all-time record.

At halftime, the Blues could have played better but were winning, which is more than acceptable against such a tough team. City just needed to finish the job in the second half.

SECOND HALF

Burnley had a very good start to the final period, keeping the ball and passing it well to find spaces inside the City defense. The Blues were able to avoid any real trouble, though, and as time went on City finally began to have some real control of the action with long spells of possession and a few half-chances.

They still needed a second goal to kill the game, and they got it when David Silva won a corner and found the head of Nicolas Otamendi who doubled City’s lead with 15 minutes to go. Just two minutes after Otamendi’s goal, the game was over for good: Kevin De Bruyne played a gorgeous assist to Leroy Sané, who beat the keeper with a great finish to make it 3-0.

With another win in the bag, Pep Guardiola made three substitutions to kill time and rest some key players, and although the Blues created a few good chances in the final minutes they couldn’t find a fourth goal. Not a problem.

Man City: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne (Gundogan), Fernandinho (Touré), Silva; Bernardo, Agüero (Jesus), Sané

Goals: Agüero (30’), Otamendi (73’), Sané (75’)

Burnley: Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Brady, Defour (Westwood), Cork, Arfield; Hendrick (Gudmundsson); Wood (Barnes)

Goals: None