MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Pep Guardiola's Manchester City eased to a 2-0 win over Cardiff at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday (April 3) to retake top spot in the Premier League from title rivals Liverpool.
Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane were enough to lift City back into top spot, at least until Friday, when Jurgen Klopp's team visit Southampton.
City now have a maximum of 13 games remaining in a potentially historic season that could see them add the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League to the League Cup they lifted against Chelsea in February.
But, whatever the remaining two months holds for Guardiola's team, they are back in the driving seat in the Premier League on 80 points, one ahead of Liverpool. Both sides have six league games remaining.
Guardiola, whose side play Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, was able to make seven changes against Neil Warnock's struggling side, resting key players in the process.
The alterations did not dull City's attacking intent but Gabriel Jesus, chosen with Sergio Aguero having been left out as a precaution, was guilty of a string of first-half misses.
De Bruyne claimed the first goal, after just five minutes, from Aymeric Laporte's through ball, with a strong run and blistering shot from a tight angle that left questions over Neil Etheridge, beaten at his near post.
Sane struck just before half-time, driving a technically brilliant low shot into the far corner after Riyad Mahrez's cross had been cushioned into his path by Jesus.
CITY DOMINATION
But the Brazilian should have done better from any number of first-half chances, one coming after just 34 seconds when he slid in and narrowly missed converting De Bruyne's low cross into an open net.
Mahrez forced Etheridge into a diving, full-stretch save with an early, curling effort, Jesus skied a shot over from 12 yards and the City striker, again, miscued a close-range effort, under pressure from two defenders, after more good play from De Bruyne.
Guardiola's side also launched a breathtaking counter-attack that saw four of their players break against two from Cardiff only for De Bruyne to free Jesus who again wasted a shot that was deflected behind.
The only minor concern for Guardiola, with an eye on the remaining fixtures, was the loss of left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko after just 18 minutes to an apparent hamstring injury, although the introduction of substitute Kyle Walker hardly represented a downgrade.
City goalkeeper Ederson remained completely untroubled as the second half followed the same pattern.
Phil Foden, making his first ever Premier League start a month short of turning 19, saw his shot saved from just six yards out while De Bruyne's long-distance free-kick bounced just wide.
Sean Morrison almost turned a De Bruyne cross into his own goal and, in one intoxicating five-minute spell after the hour, six good City chances came and went, Etheridge saving well from Foden twice, a Laporte header, Mahrez and Sane while Fernandinho struck a post for good measure.
By the time Oumar Niasse steered Cardiff's first on-target shot of the evening directly at Ederson, after 74 minutes, the outcome had long since been decided and his shot even drew ironic cheers from his own supporters.
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For the first time, MyFootballCamp is coming to Singapore, and an amazing youth football training camp will be held at Home United Youth Football Academy (HYFA) at Mattar Road in term 20 November - 24 November2017!
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said men in "my culture and in the Middle East" need to treat women with more respect as he was named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine. The Egypt striker, 26, a practising Muslim, was also one of the US magazine's six cover stars and used his interview to discuss women's equality.
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Dec 19, 2018 · Cooking can make people of all ages more open to trying new tastes, so enlist the whole gang in holiday dessert prep. Getty. Any of these treats from the corners of the globe should sweeten your
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Teenage sensation Moise Kean scored the winner to put Juventus one step away from an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as a 2-1 comeback win over AC Milan pushed the champions 21 points
Kean winner puts Juventus on brink of Serie A title
Manchester City endured some anxious moments but escaped from fourth-tier Newport County with their FA Cup hopes intact as Phil Foden scored twice in a 4-1 fifth-round victory on Saturday. Newport
Premier League: Returning Mesut Ozil has Arsenal future says Unai Emery Description: Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has missed four recent games with a back problem but has started just once since November 11 -- and that was a Europa League dead rubber at home to Qarabag.
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Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com Just to chat, truly yours, your biggest fan, this is StanAnswer - he couldn't give two shits. Kroenke out.Kiarian This is on Kroenke and WengerThings do not look good at Arsenal.
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Juventus claimed their eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Fiorentina. Alex Sandro's diving header after 37 minutes and an own goal from Fiorentina defender German Pezzella after a Cristiano Ronaldo cross on 53 minutes sealed a 35th Scudetto.
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Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi is courting interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Villareal. The 17-year-old attacker is one of England's best players in his age group and has made four appearances for Antonio Conte's side this season.
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Rodgers closing in on EPL return with Leicester LONDON • Brendan Rodgers will soon make his return to managing in the Premier League, as Celtic "very reluctantly" granted him permission to talk to Leicester City.
Rodgers on brink of return to Premier League with Leicester
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/02/26/rodgers-on-brink-of-return-to-premier-league-with-leicester/
Rodgers on brink of return to Premier League with Leicester AFP February 26, 2019 AFP 1 Comment London (AFP) - Brendan Rodgers took a signficant step closer to a return to managing in the Premier League as Celtic "very reluctantly" granted him permission to talk to Leicester City.
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