Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City Review

Premier League GW28

It’s not easy to win away from home in the Premier League, especially at Elland Road this season, and despite the pressure to keep pace with Arsenal, Manchester City were able to find the goal and manage the game well after a couple of early scares. Needing to depend on the older players as much as the new signings that stepped up.

MOTM: RAYAN AIT-NOURI

Excellent run and delivery for the game-winning goal, completed 6/6 dribbles, winning his ground duels (8/8), and aerial duels (3/3). Secure on the ball, under pressure, and able to wriggle his way out of tight spaces. It wasn’t the best start, along with injuries, and AFCON this season, but now Ait-Nouri has settled into the team. That’s his eighth consecutive start. It looks like Guardiola has landed on a back four which has him in it.

Notable Stats:

• Since his Premier League debut for Manchester City on 17th January, only Cole Palmer and João Pedro (both 6) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Antoine Semenyo (5).

• Since the start of 2022-23, Manchester City have won 14 of their 18 Premier League games without Erling Haaland (D2 L2), averaging 2.4 points per game and having a 78% win rate without the Norwegian.

• Manchester City have won three consecutive away league games against Leeds United for the first time since winning their first ever three visits to Elland Road between 1924 and 1928.

Game Stats:

Leeds United 0-1 Manchester City

• xG: 1.17 - 2.40

• xThreat: 1.36 - 1.54

• Possession: 34.0% - 66.0%

• Field Tilt: 32.2% - 67.8%

• Penalty Box Shots: 7 - 11

• Deep Entries: 7 - 10

• PPDA: 15.1 - 10.3

• High Turnovers: 7 - 2

Erling Haaland is not in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time since Aston Villa (H) last season on the 22nd of April, 2025.

Antoine Semenyo (7) has completed as many full 90s for Manchester City this season as Savinho (3) and Oscar Bobb (4) combined.

Rayan Ait-Nouri has now started the last eight games across all competitions, completing the full 90' in six of them.

If you want to stay up-to-date on individual player minutes, back four combinations, underlying numbers, and more, check out the live Google sheet below. 👇

With Erling Haaland out, in came Rayan Cherki to play in midfield, between the lines with O’Reilly and Silva. Although all dropped at times deeper to receive outside the defensive block of Leeds. Full-backs holding the width on either side. Rodri, at times, would drop between the two central defenders to form a back three.

Semenyo and Marmoush, as the split strikers, occupied the space between the wide central defenders and the full-backs, on either side. Leaving the CCB Rodon without anyone to pick up. Rodri (142), Cherki (104), Nunes (99), Guehi (94), Silva (93), and Dias (92) all had 90+ touches.

They pressed Leeds with the 4-4-2 diamond we’ve seen for many games this season. Silva is splitting the pivot of Gruev and Ampadu. Marmoush and Cherki are to jump onto the central defenders on their side. O’Reilly and Semenyo either tuck inside or jump out to press the full-back, depending on the side Leeds play out through. Leaving you, Dias, Guehi, and Rodri to deal with long balls into Calvert-Lewin and Stach. Maintaining a +1 in the backline.

Something a little different from Manchester City in the buildup from goal-kicks against Leeds United, with the central defenders splitting wide. Silva and Rodri are on either side of Donnarumma. Getting your best two players on the ball. Making lots of little touches, dribbles, and short passes rather than the quick one-touch passes that M2M presses can thrive off.

This was one of the points Guardiola talked about post-match with Rodri and Silva. You can make it more difficult for the M2M press if you make every player take 3-4 touches.

They had plenty of success playing through the press, dropping Leeds, and progressing the ball up the pitch. But what they lacked was the intention and movement up top to break the defensive line after that. The early shot by Semenyo (offside) that was wide, played through by Rodri, was an example of the movement they lacked to take advantage of these situations once moving past the initial press of Leeds.

To compete in the Premier League each week, you need more tools than before. For Manchester City this season, a big theme has been learning how and when to use each of those tools, rather than lacking any of them. Moving from the approach against Newcastle into the Leeds match highlights the different ways this team can play.

Calvert-Lewin (4’) fast break shot that starts with Silva's misplaced pass to O’Reilly inside, Guehi fouled by Calvert-Lewin in the buildup, which leaves him free in the box for a shot just wide. Sharp reminder of the threat Leeds can pose, despite that likely being ruled if scored due to the foul.

Calvert-Lewin (17’) chance wide of the post, again begins with a City turnover, which they’re not quick enough to recover the ball in the counter press, and then Cherki is too slow in his press to stop the long ball over the top. Although Donnarumma takes away most of the angle for a goal, it goes wide of the post.

Great effort by Guehi to put off Aaronson (21’), missing a chance inside the box after Ait-Nouri's clearance goes wrong, and Leeds can cross into the box.

Another turnover, this time by Rodri, leads to the best chance Leeds have in the game. Aaronson (39’) fast break shot saved 1v1 with Donnarumma. Like the early chance by Calvert-Lewin, I think if scored, this would have been ruled out for offside.

Still, the recovery run by Dias is enough to put Aaronson off coming inside, who is right-footed, and Donnarumma closes down a lot of the angle. He goes through the legs, and the save is made, dropping his right knee inside to cover the space.

It was a good period for Leeds to start the game, albeit two of those chances are likely ruled out, but pounced on the mistakes by Manchester City on the ball, started aggressively without the threat of Haaland to push them back, and came close to scoring in that opening twenty-minute period.

Marmoush (40’) then has a shot inside the box saved. Shortly after that, Nunes overlapping Bernardo Silva, puts in a great cross for O’Reilly arriving late into the middle of the box unmarked. His header (40’) was saved, and the follow-up shot was saved.

Another chance for City that Darlow can get to before Marmoush can get a shot off. Cross into the box by Ait-Nouri, brought down by O’Reilly, and then smoothed just as Marmoush was arriving to take on that loose ball.

A. Semenyo 45'+2 0-1
Probing on the right side, Rodri then moves it back across to the left to Cherki. Marmoush comes across to the flank, dragging an opposition player with him and opening up the half-space, as another comes to close down Cherki.

He's patient enough to wait for Ait-Nouri to make the run, attacking the space opened up. Through into the box, he finds Semenyo arriving in the 6-yard box to score.

You also had O'Reilly arriving. Nunes is trying to reach the back post. Especially without Haaland, more players needed to make the effort to get into the box, and it paid off tonight.

Leeds were able to show their threat in transition for the first twenty minutes of the game, but Manchester City pushed them back for the final twenty of the first half, winning second ball after second ball to pin Leeds in their own half. Pushing for the opening goal. In the end, managing the occasion well against a team that hasn’t lost a home PL match under the lights this season. Especially without the threat of Erling Haaland, who would have stopped them from being as aggressive with the press at the start of the game.

From the start of the 2nd half until the 75th minute, Manchester City had 246 touches to the 137 of Leeds. Completed 190 passes to their 86. Rodri (42) and Cherki (40) made the most touches in that period. Those two led for passes in that period with 38 for Rodri and 35 for Cherki.

No shot from Leeds between the 50th minute and the 85th minute either. It was a great example of Manchester City putting ‘the ball in the fridge’ as we’ve seen from previous versions of the team under Guardiola. Away from home, under the lights, and under pressure. The team killed the game with the ball.

A couple of slips between Dias and Cherki lead to a Leeds fast break, and Nunes comes across to make a vital block on Calvert-Lewin's shot. At the end, Marmoush has a volley go wide after a cross from Nunes. Then Dias plays him through for a shot that’s blocked, and then another pass from Dias mis-hit shot to the back-post that Marmoush is just not able to reach for a good connection, going wide.

Nmecha on for Aaronson (65’) would shift Leeds to having two strikers up top as they looked for more deliveries into the box. City, on the other hand brung on Savinho on for Marmoush (68’). Giving him minutes after returning from injury, and an outlet to get up the pitch when under pressure from Leeds.

Reijnders on for the injured Nico O’Reilly (70’), won his duels (2/2) and made a couple of clearances. Suffering a knock to his ankle, there is no confirmation on the extent of his injury yet.

Lovely little bit of play into Cherki, who finds Semenyo on the edge of the box, cutting inside to have his shot blocked for a corner. Guehi (72’) then, from that corner, has his shot saved. Cherki's delivery, flicked on by Rodri, and Darlow stop it from going in the top corner.

More changes from Leeds as James and Gnonto for Gruev and Bogle (76’). Ake came on for Cherki (88’), who had a fantastic game at controlling the tempo alongside the likes of Silva and Rodri. Now it was just about seeing out the final few minutes of long balls into the box and set pieces. Leeds had a good chance late with Bijol's (88’) header from a corner going wide.

Here is a look at the passing map (via Playback90) by Manchester City against Leeds until the first substitution. The width held by Ait-Nouri and Nunes on either side. Split-strikers in Marmoush and Semenyo are occupying the space between the wide CB and FB of Leeds.

You’ll also notice Silva is behind Dias as he was dropping deep throughout the game to offer an option to Dias and Nunes. It was all about being secure on the ball and maintaining possession throughout the second half.

65% of ground duels won by Manchester City against Leeds (41/63). Their biggest percentage for a single match this season. Below is a graphic (via Playback90) highlighting the duels won by the team for each zone of the pitch. You can see who won the battle in midfield. That the backfour won their duels.

In terms of the individual duels won, Ait-Nouri (11/11), Rodri (7/10), Semenyo (7/10), Nunes (7/11), Dias (6/8), and Guehi (4/5) were the leaders for Manchester City.

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Moving Forward

Important win in the end to keep up the pace with Arsenal in the title race. As great as it was to see how well the team defended their box, it was how they managed the game in the second half that impressed me the most. Especially in contrast to the approach vs Newcastle. You can see the different ways the team is able to compete, which is needed to win the Premier League this season. Many more games to go through, Forest is another opportunity for a slip-up, and the focus needs to remain all the way through to the end.

Antoine Semenyo has scored 4 goals from inside the 6-yard box this season, and 3 of those have been for Manchester City. Three of his six goals for City this season have been game-state-changing. The opener against Newcastle (LC) and Fulham (PL). The winner against Leeds United (A). Across all competitions, he's on 21 goal contributions this season (16A 5A), a career best total, with 15+ games still left to play.

That is the kind of impact Semenyo was brought in to make, and he could prove decisive in the remaining games. Gives the team an entirely different option to Doku and Savinho as wingers. Still, he’s got plenty more work to do, as he mentioned after the match, to fit into the team, to learn, and to impact the game. Semenyo can smell goals; that’s been a huge boost for the team since arriving, but the all-around performance on the ball is the improvement to be excited about coming.

The reports are not serious regarding Erling Haaland's injury, and he’s expected back against Nottingham Forest. There is no update on Nico O’Reilly yet. The top two for minutes played across all competitions this season. Key players they’ll need back as soon as possible.

Twenty-two minutes off the bench for Savinho. Good to see he’s working back to fitness after a long injury, having not played at all in 2026. As the schedule ramps up, to keep everyone fresh, they’ll need as many attacking options as possible.

Jeremy Doku didn’t get minutes but was on the bench. You’d expect to see him on the pitch in some capacity against Forest, and work towards being a starter against Real Madrid (A) in the Champions League. If fit and back to the same form before his injury, Doku is a starter.

The depth returning to the bench is a great sign, although not needed to win the game late against Leeds, Guardiola now has plenty of options for each game. Rico Lewis and Max Alleyne were not in the squad. If Haaland and Gvardiol were fit, that means two more players would need to be left out of the matchday squad.

Next up for Manchester City is Nottingham Forest (H) on the 4th of March at 19:30 (UK). They currently sit 17th in the Premier League table on 27 points. Only two league wins in 2026 for Forest after beating West Ham and Brentford away from home. Under the new manager, they’re yet to win a PL game, but have managed to get past Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-off round.