Ilkay Gundogan scored twice for the second successive game as Manchester City moved to within six points of the Premier League title with a comfortable 3-0 win at Everton.
Erling Haaland‘s header — his 36th league goal this season — sandwiched Gundogan’s brace of goals, and City could even win the title against Chelsea at the Etihad next Sunday if Arsenal drop points against Brighton & Hove Albion or Nottingham Forest beforehand.
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But while City edged closer to the title, defeat leaves Everton deep in relegation trouble. A win for Leicester City at home to Liverpool on Monday would see Sean Dyche’s team drop back into the bottom three.
Rapid reaction
1. Man City enjoy perfect warmup for Real Madrid
City manager Pep Guardiola had complained about his team having to face Everton on Sunday, while Champions League opponents Real Madrid benefitted from the extra rest of playing Getafe a day earlier. But by the end of the game at Goodison Park, City had the perfect preparation for Wednesday’s semifinal second leg.
Guardiola’s team edged closer to completing the first leg of a potential treble by beating Everton with goals from Gundogan and Haaland, and they also emerged without injury concerns. Even if Arsenal continue to win their Premier League fixtures, this win meant that City need just six points to seal their third successive title. With City also boasting a significantly better goal difference than the Gunners, one win and two draws from their remaining three games will almost certainly be enough to be crowned champions.
Three games to win the title, two victories from Champions League success and Manchester United awaiting in the FA Cup final. The Treble really is beginning to zoom into view for City and Wednesday’s clash with Real looks like being the biggest obstacle they will have to clear.
City were forced to play on Sunday because Liverpool hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, and the authorities ruled out this fixture being played on the same day just a couple of miles away. His issue was that Real would have longer to prepare, but it was a hollow argument considering that the Spanish team, 11 points behind Barcelona in the La Liga title race, were able to rest eight key players. City had no such luxury due to Arsenal pursuing them in the Premier League, but they still managed to coast through without too much stress.
They are six games from the Treble and it is beginning to look easy for Guardiola and his players.
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2. Is it too late to keep Gundongan?
Gundogan’s City contract expires at the end of this season and the Germany international has shown no inclination towards signing a new deal . After seven years in Manchester, the 32-year-old reportedly has an offer from Barcelona to move to Spotify Camp Nou as a free agent. It seems inevitable that he will leave City this summer.
The former Borussia Dortmund player has been a key figure during Guardiola’s time as coach and it would be foolish of City not to to make one final attempt to keep Gundogan. His form this season has been outstanding and after scoring both goals in last week’s 2-1 win against Leeds, he was also the match-winner at Goodison Park with two goals and an assist. His first goal was technically brilliant, controlling the ball on his thigh before improvising to beat Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal.
There are few better examples than Gundogan of the perfect modern footballer. He can play in a variety of positions — defensive midfield, attacking midfield and even as a false No. 9 — and he is a model of consistency. But sometimes, a player wants a new challenge and if Gundogan is tempted by the chance to move to LaLiga with Barcelona, who can blame him?
You can bet that Guardiola will try to persuade him otherwise, though.
