Tuning up in Manchester before visiting the Santiago Bernabéu. True to his dominating style, Guardiola's City had fun at home at the expense of Leeds (2-1). Enjoying the first half. Rushing in the second. And ensuring one more day the leadership of the Premier League before facing the first leg of the Champions League semifinals against Real Madrid. After Gundogan's double that allowed City to go two goals ahead at half-time, the only thing left to decide was when Guardiola would take to seat De Bruyne and if Håland would continue to extend his scoring streak. Neither of those things happened.
Despite dragging discomfort that prevented him from playing the last two games, De Bruyne wanted to film himself already thinking about the European event and completed the 90 minutes. And Håland did not score despite having up to five clear scoring chances in which the ball ran into either the wood or the fists and knee of goalkeeper Joel Robles, the best in Leeds. The former Betis goalkeeper was the great novelty in the debut of Sam Allardyce on the bench of a Leeds immersed in that anguishing fight for permanence. In return, and to give the match some excitement, Robles saved a penalty from Gündogan and Rodrigo was able to close the gap, scoring the final 2-1.
Beyond the lineups of Håland and De Bruyne, Guardiola proposed an unprecedented defense with Akanji, Laporte and Aké, which ended with discomfort asking for the change. They also played substitutes like Julián Álvarez or Rico Lewis to rest Bernardo Silva and Rodri. After several warnings from the Argentine and as many incursions from Kevin de Bruyne on the right, earning the applause of the entire Etihad Stadium, Gündogan's goals arrived. In the first, after twenty minutes, De Bruyne opened the field with an exquisite touch towards the right wing, from where Mahrez produced a cross on the edge of the area that Gündogan hooked with an unappealable right foot. And in the second, seven minutes later, Mahrez again assisted Gündogan and the German, with his powerful arrival, left the match practically sentenced.
There were no changes at halftime. In fact, Guardiola did not move the board until minute 87 when he called Bernardo Silva who replaced Julián Álvarez. Before there were two more sticks from Håland and a penalty for Strujik's demolition of Foden. Without giving explanations, Gündogan took the ball to the detriment of Håland. He over-hurried his pitch and Joel Robles quickly read his intentions.
From a possible 3-0 it went to 2-1 by Rodrigo Moreno who took advantage of an error in Akanji's defense to give him excitement in the last minutes. Guardiola, angry, called Rodri and seated Gundogan to lose time. "You've made it difficult for me now at the end," the Santpedor manager told Sam Allardyce. But now you can think about Real Madrid.
2.- Manchester City: Ederson; Akanji, Laporte, Aké (Walker, min. 54); Mahrez, Rico Lewis, Gündogan (Rodri, min. 93), Foden, De Bruyne; Julián Álvarez (Bernardo Silva, min. 86) and Haaland.
1.- Leeds United: Joel; Kristensen, Wöber, Junior; Ayling, Forshaw (Struijk, min. 80), Marc Roca (Greemwood, min. 59), Harrison (Summerville, min. 66); McKennie, Gnonto (Rodrigo, min. 58) y Bamford (Aaronson, min. 80).
Goals: 1-0, min. 19: Gundogan; 2-0 min. 27: Gundogan; 2-1 min. 85: Rodrigo.
Referee: Andrew Madley. He showed yellow cards to Gnonto (min. 45 2), Rodrigo (min. 71) and McKennie (min. 93) by Leeds United.
Incidents: match corresponding to the thirty-fifth day of the Premier League played at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium in front of nearly 50,000 spectators.
