Manchester City vs Chelsea Player Ratings: Blues Snatch Last-Gasp Equaliser in Tense 1-1 Draw

A tense battle at the Etihad Stadium saw the Blues snatch a last-moment equalizer to stop Manchester City from getting all three points. This Premier League clash between Manchester City and Chelsea was an end-to-end affair with City dominating proceedings. Man City had plenty of chances but failed to convert all those. On the other hand, Club World Cup champions Chelsea were piling the pressure on throughout the game. Ultimately, the dramatic clash ended in a 1-1 stalemate, which felt like a fair result on the balance of play. Neither side will be thrilled, but they won't be devastated either after this result. Arsenal would thank the Blues for this for sure.

City enjoyed 61% possession and created a total of 31 line-breaking passes. However, despite the buildup and verticality, the outcome in the final third was severely lacking. Erling Haaland, who is usually a certainty in these positions, missed two chances, while Phil Foden also struggled to find his range, contributing to a wasteful 12 shots with only 3 finding the target. Tijjani Reijnders scored the goal in the 41st minute, rifling a powerful left-footed effort into the top corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.

City looked to be cruising after a fantastic strike from the top ten best Dutch footballers Tijjani Reijnders, just before halftime. They controlled large parts of the game, with Rodri pulling the strings as usual. We even saw Erling Haaland rattle the post, coming so close to doubling the lead. It felt like one of those days where City would just grind out the win.

But as the clock moved into the 95th minute and the Etihad crowd prepared to celebrate a narrow win, Chelsea’s consistent hard work finally paid off.
After a rare City defensive lapse, one of the best Chelsea players Enzo Fernández found himself with a yard of space and calmly slotted an equalizer, securing a huge point for the Blues and leaving Pep Guardiola fuming on the touchline with two points dropped, increasing the gap between Manchester City and Arsenal to six points. Let's take a deeper look at the Manchester City vs Chelsea Player Ratings from the EPL clash.

Manchester City Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6.0: Had very little to do for most of the game, a testament to his team's dominance. He made one key save inside the box. However, he was beaten by Enzo Fernández’s clinical finish. We noticed he was tidy with his distribution, completing 93% of his passes. A quiet day overall but couldn't secure the clean sheet.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 6.5: A mixed bag from the Portuguese defender before he went off injured. He was physically dominant, winning most of his aerial duels. But he also committed three fouls and picked up a yellow card, which was a bit reckless. From our perspective, his aggression sometimes bordered on clumsy. His injury will be a concern for Guardiola.

Josko Gvardiol - 7.0: Looked very solid before his unfortunate injury early in the second half. He was incredibly efficient in possession, with a 93% pass accuracy. He also won all his tackles. His early departure was a blow to City's defensive structure. We thought he was on for a great performance.

Matheus Nunes - 7.0: A surprisingly effective performance at the back. What stood out to us were his five successful tackles, winning every single one he attempted. He was tenacious and read the game well. He did get booked, but it was a strong defensive showing overall. He also tried to get forward, making eight passes into the final third.

Nico O'Reilly - 7.0: The youngster held his own in a big game. He was very busy defensively, making an impressive six tackles. He was composed on the ball, with an 89% pass accuracy. We were impressed with his maturity. He missed a decent headed chance in the first half but a very encouraging display nonetheless.

Midfielders

Tijjani Reijnders - 7.5: Scored a wonderful goal from the edge of the box to give City the lead. It was a moment of pure quality. Beyond the goal, he was tidy, creating two chances for his teammates. He was a constant threat before being substituted. We felt his departure took some of the creative spark out of the team.

Rayan Cherki - 6.5: A frustrating afternoon for him. He saw a lot of the ball, with 85 touches, but he lost it 27 times, which is far too many. From our perspective, he tried to make things happen but his final product was lacking. He recovered the ball 11 times, showing a good work rate, but he needs to be more decisive in attack.

Rodri - 8.0: Our Man of the Match. He was simply immense in the middle of the park. What stood out was his defensive contribution, winning 9 duels and making 5 tackles. He also dictated the tempo, creating four chances and providing the assist for Haaland's shot that hit the post. A truly complete midfield performance. It’s hard to imagine this team without him.

Bernardo Silva - 6.5: A typically industrious performance from the captain, but without the usual magic. He was booked and committed three fouls, showing his frustration at times. He created two chances but also lost possession too frequently for his high standards. Not his best day, but his work rate can never be faulted.

Phil Foden - 7.0: Looked lively and was always trying to create something. He created three chances and was a willing runner. However, his finishing was off, as he missed the target with both his shots. He lost the ball a lot, but from our perspective, that's because he was always taking risks to unlock the Chelsea defence.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 7.0: It just wasn't his day in front of goal. He was so unlucky to see his powerful shot cannon back off the post. He had five shots in total, but only one was on target. Despite the frustration, his movement and presence were a constant problem for the Chelsea backline. He won an impressive 5 duels.

Substitutes

Jérémy Doku - 6.0: Came on for Reijnders but couldn't provide the game-changing spark. He had a shot blocked but was otherwise quiet.

Nathan Aké - N/A: Came on late for the injured Rúben Dias and didn't have enough time to make an impact.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 6.5: His team dominated possession and created enough chances to win the game. The injury to Gvardiol disrupted his plans. From our perspective, his decision to take off goalscorer Reijnders might be questioned as City lost some control afterward. He will be frustrated to only come away with a draw.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Goalkeeper

Filip Jørgensen - 7.0: Made two crucial saves, including a great stop from a Rúben Dias header. He couldn't do anything about the stunning goal. His distribution was decent under pressure, and he commanded his area well. A solid performance that kept his team in the game.

Defenders

Benoît Badiashile - 6.5: Had a difficult time dealing with Haaland's physicality, losing a couple of aerial duels. However, he made four important clearances and two blocked shots. He was a bit shaky at times but grew into the game and did enough to help secure a point.

Trevoh Chalobah - 7.0: A really solid display from Chalobah. He made six clearances and blocked two shots, putting his body on the line for the team. We were impressed with his composure. He was comfortable on the ball with a 90% pass accuracy. A reliable and strong presence at the back.

Malo Gusto - 6.0: He had a tough assignment against City's fluid attack. While he recovered the ball eight times, he also lost it 15 times, which is a concern. He was dribbled past once and looked vulnerable at times. From our perspective, he worked hard but struggled to contain his flank effectively.

Josh Acheampong - 6.0: The youngster put in a decent shift before being substituted. He made a couple of important clearances. However, he struggled in his duels, winning only 3 out of 7. It was a valuable learning experience for him against the top opposition.

Midfielders

Pedro Neto - 5.5: A very quiet game for a player of his quality. He missed a big chance in the second half, blazing over the bar. He lost possession 11 times and struggled to make any real impact on the game. We expected a lot more from him, and it was a disappointing outing.

Enzo Fernández - 8.0: The hero for Chelsea. He scored the vital equalizer with a clinical finish. But his performance was so much more than the goal. He was a warrior in midfield, making seven tackles and winning seven duels. He also created two chances. What stood out to us was his leadership and relentless energy.

Cole Palmer - 6.0: Returning to his former club, Palmer had a frustrating game. He was largely anonymous and couldn't find the spaces he usually thrives in. He lost six of his nine duels and failed to register a shot on target. It felt like the occasion might have gotten to him a little.

Reece James - 6.0: The captain had a very difficult game. He made a crucial error leading to a shot and picked up a yellow card. He committed four fouls and lost 5 duels. While he showed his quality with a couple of nice crosses, his defensive indiscipline was a problem. Not the standard we expect from him.

Estêvão - 5.0: A really tough first half for the young player. He just couldn't get into the game at all. He lost all three of his duels and was a passenger for large spells. It was no surprise to see him substituted at halftime. A steep learning curve for him in the Premier League.

Forwards

João Pedro - 6.0: He worked hard up front but was isolated for much of the game. He lost nine of his 14 duels, struggling against City's powerful defenders. He drew a few fouls to relieve pressure but offered little goal threat before being taken off. It was a thankless task for him.

Substitutes

Andrey Santos - 6.5: Came on at halftime and added some much-needed steel to the midfield.

Liam Delap - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on, causing a few problems with his direct running. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles.

Jorrel Hato - 6.5: Replaced Acheampong and looked solid and untroubled at the back.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match: Rodri