TOPS
Replacing in big Champions League matches, especially against Bayern Munich, Riyad Mahrez took advantage of his chance this Saturday against Sheffield United. During the FA Cup semi-final, the Algerian international wandered off, scoring a hat-trick that gave City qualification for the final. Penalty scorer for the opener (41st minute), the former Leicester player scored two additional goals in 5 minutes during the second half. A solo where he recovers the ball on the center line before heading for goal with the ball at his feet without ever being worried (61st) and another where he takes over a service from Jack Grealish (66th) in first intention. Mahrez is regaining confidence and City is still advancing in its quest for a cup, championship and C1 treble.
If Mahrez unblocked the situation from the penalty spot, it was largely thanks to the Portuguese midfielder who was able to obtain the necessary fault with mischief. Certainly, the former AS Monaco misses his volley but puts his foot on the ball just before suffering the naive tackle from Jebbison. A gesture that may be insignificant but which is very expensive for Championship residents on arrival (see below).
FLOPS
The 19-year-old English striker unfortunately comes out for him with the worst score of this meeting due in large part to his fault on Bernardo Silva in the 40th minute. As he takes his eyes off the ball for half a second, his very poorly controlled tackle is not without consequence since if the Bades were holding up well until then, Jebbison gave his team the stick to be beaten by the ogre Manchester City, who did not expect so much.
He was presented as Sheffield United’s number one danger, he was on the very first opportunity (the only one for his team) of the game in the 2nd minute, and that’s it. But when you find yourself alone against Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega and you have the opportunity to hit hard from the start, you have to do it or risk being punished. Within six yards, after a partner’s header from a corner, his half-hearted shot landed on Ortega’s left leg as the goal reached out to him. An opportunity that was to end at the bottom and that the Senegalese had to rehash the whole match, since he did not touch many balls afterwards.
