London (AFP)
Beaten this weekend by United in the derby (2-0), Manchester City regained their distance at the top of the Premier League by dominating Southampton (5-2) on Wednesday in the advanced match of the 33rd day.
With 68 points, the Citizens are back 14 lengths ahead of their immediate pursuer, the Red Devils, even if they have one game more than their local rivals.
This match initially scheduled for the end of April has been brought forward to clear the schedule for City which will play, at that time, the League Cup final against Tottenham (April 25).
The English leader took the opportunity to show that his first defeat after 21 consecutive wins in the derby on Sunday did not affect him much.
Even if he took two more goals, a rarity for a team which had built its good series on an iron defense, the leader never seemed in danger against the 14th in the championship.
Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez each went with a double - the Belgian opening the scoring in the 15th and closing it in the 59th, while the Algerian had put City in front in the 40th before widening the gap to 4 -1 in the 55th -, while Ilkay Gündogan had made the break just before the break (3-1, 45 + 3).
Southampton had not yet made a complex, equalizing by James Ward-Prowse from the penalty spot (1-1, 25th), before Che Adams, with success, reduced the score to 4-2 in the 56th.
City will be able to calmly prepare their trip to relegation Fulham this weekend, before the return of the Champions League, which will be their main objective for the end of the season.
Next Tuesday, City "will receive" Mönchengladbach in the round of 16 return to Budapest, travel restrictions in Germany oblige.
On the first leg, also in the Hungarian capital, he won 2-0.
© 2021 AFP