Report and free match highlights as Southampton hold Man City to a goalless draw at St Mary's Stadium; City squander chance to move level on points with Arsenal in second; Southampton now have 12 points this season and avoid Derby's record for the lowest tally
Manchester City squandered their chance to solidify their spot in the top five after being held to a 0-0 draw with already-relegated Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.
City could have moved level on points with Arsenal in second with a win but now stay within touching distance of their fellow Champions League chasers Newcastle, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, with 65 points in third place.
Five points separate City and Villa in seventh, with two more gameweeks remaining in the season. City face Bournemouth and Fulham in their final two fixtures, with the race for a place amongst Europe's elite now seemingly going down to the wire.
Pep Guardiola's side dominated the ball with 70 per cent possession for much of the fixture, but a stoic defensive performance from the hosts limited them to an expected-goals value of just 0.04 throughout the first half.
It was a stark contrast to what we have seen from Saints for much of the season, after conceding 82 goals across the 36 games so far, but the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Jack Stephens and Taylor Harwood-Bellis were equal to anything City tested them with.
Another substitution for Southampton. The home side made their final substitution, with Smallbone coming on to look for a goal. Mateus Fernandes came off after a strong performance.
May 10, 2025 3:52 PM3 days ago
⏱️90
There's time! Seven minutes of added time have been added to this match, after which the seven minutes have already been completed. The added time started off quite lively, with Marmoush setting the stage for a tremendous shot at goal, but the ball went straight off the crossbar.
May 10, 2025 3:49 PM3 days ago
⏱️87
Southampton's changes. Manning and Stewart come on at the end of the match, looking to create damage and go for the first goal of the game. Wellington and Sulemana come off the pitch, looking to go for that win.
May 10, 2025 3:47 PM3 days ago
↔️ 84
Another substitution for the visiting team. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City makes another substitution in the match. Marmoush comes on to refresh his legs, while Kovacic comes off. A great match.
May 10, 2025 3:44 PM3 days ago
⏱️81
What a sight! Josko Gvardiol received the ball inside the box, the defender turned around and fired a powerful shot looking for Aaron Ramsdale's goal, but the ball went way wide and a great opportunity was missed.
May 10, 2025 3:41 PM3 days ago
⏱️78
It's gone! Little by little, the visiting players continue to search for the opponent's goal. After several passes, it's Akanji who dares to shoot with great power, but the ball goes just wide of the goal without even touching the goal.
May 10, 2025 3:38 PM3 days ago
↔️ 75
Manchester City's changes. Savinho and O'Reilly come on, and Phil Foden and Rico Lewis are out. They need to go for that goal to make it three, and Pep Guardiola isn't holding anything back.
May 10, 2025 3:35 PM3 days ago
⏱️72
What a sight! After a well-orchestrated assist from Kevin de Bruyne, it was Akanji who looked to go for the first goal with a fine shot, but the home defense managed to keep it out, and they've achieved little in these minutes.
May 10, 2025 3:33 PM3 days ago
⏱️69
The match, back and forth, became quite interesting after the visiting team's multiple attempts, but Southampton also aggressively sought the visitors' goal, making for a very close duel. They need goals.
May 10, 2025 3:31 PM3 days ago
↔️ 66
Southampton makes a new modification, it is Dibling who comes out of the game, this after playing good moments in the game, Cameron Archer takes that place to seek to generate greater danger and refresh his legs.
⏱️65
Goalkeeper! What a run from the visiting team! It was Doku who made a dangerous entrance into the box, sending in a powerful cross that Halaand saved. However, when he shot, the ball reached Ramsdale, who prevented the goal.
⏱️62
What a game! Great overflow by Doku who manages to find Silva in the center, however the good intervention of Stephens prevents the first of the match from arriving in this play, a very close match.
⏱️59
Foden wants to continue creating danger, but when he tried to enter the box dangerously to go for that first goal, the player was brought down by Fernandes, there was little he could do and he ended up falling badly, they need to look for more options.
⏱️55
It's incredible how little Southampton have created. It's now Dibling who is looking to create damage on Ederson's goal, however, when he tries to get past Josko Gvardiol, the player is fouled and the rest of the play is cancelled out.
⏱️52
What a sight! City are giving it more pace. Doku and Kovacic were the ones who looked to get the first chance of the night, but on both occasions the ball fell into the home players, missing key opportunities.
⏱️49
They're multiplying! Despite the visitors' multiple attempts, it's Bednareck, Stephens, and company who are trying to prevent the first one from falling. It's a very intense game by any measure, but the visitors are the ones who are trying the hardest.
↔️ 46
The second half is now underway between Southampton and City. Both teams make a change. The home side takes Ugochukwu out of the match, and Joe Aribo replaces him. For Pep's team, Doku comes on, replacing McAtee.
⏱️45+2
Halftime. The first half is coming to an end, and City will be looking for opportunities. After several attempts, they haven't managed to open the scoring on this complex pitch. A rather hectic second half is coming up.
⏱️44
Not like that! It was Kovacic who was looking for the first for the visiting team, but it was Ugochukwu who intervened, with a free kick, but ended up stopping a dangerous move in the home box.
⏱️41
They keep looking! Rubén Días was looking for the first goal of the match with a shot from outside the box, but the defense incredibly blocked the ball and prevented the danger from growing.
⏱️38
Manchester City have generated multiple attempts in this first half, however, they still haven't found the desired clarity. All of them go wide or are deflected by the defense, which has multiplied greatly.
⏱️35
Nothing! A great clearance from Bednarek in the home box, the defender manages to prevent City's players from shooting inside the box and looking to open the scoring at the end of the first half. The fine intervention prevents any danger.
⏱️32
No danger at all! It is Kevin de Bruyne who was looking for the first, however after shooting a free kick looking for the local goal, the ball ends up going over the goal, he needs to be more precise.
⏱️28
What a mess! Despite the home side's attempts to push out of their own box and create danger, it's City who are applying pressure up the pitch. They're unable to break through the midfield and need to create more danger.
⏱️24
It can't be! It was Erling Halaand who was looking to create danger in the opponent's goal, but when he sent in his cross, Josko Gvardiol was offside, and the referee ended up waving off the play.
⏱️21
Wow! McAtee was looking to go forward, however in the intensity of the play he ended up fouling Ugochukwu, they need to have more creativity in this game. They need goals in this match.
⏱️18
Kevin de Bruyne is failing to create any chances, but the visitors' dominance is quite clear, and Southampton have no way to steal the ball that persistently seeks the goal.
⏱️15
Southampton are gradually looking for the opponent's goal in this match, but they are unable to get directly into the most dangerous area of the pitch. They are unable to cause any damage, and the game is already going all out.
⏱️12
Southampton's players are unable to get out of the way. Despite multiple attempts, the Manchester City squad prevents any dangerous play from developing, and the ball refuses to go for the goal.
⏱️9
Close! Downes manages to clear the ball from his own area, preventing the visitors from causing damage in the opponent's goal. A good save from the defender keeps the threat away from his own goal and prevents them from shooting in search of the first goal.
⏱️6
They fail to get forward. The home team takes the ball but fails to generate any chances to strike the first blow in this match. They try to create danger, but the defense repels their attacks.
⏱️3
The whole City team is out there. Despite the game starting early, no one has managed to get forward and find the spaces to create danger in the opponent's box. The game has barely started, and it will be a busy few minutes.
⏱️0
The game is moving. The action for this 36th round of the Premier League has begun. Both Manchester City and Southampton will be looking to score goals and emerge victorious from this complex encounter.
Jeremy Doku and Omar Marmoush gave City more of an edge off the bench but despite flooding forward in waves, Southampton were able to hold on for just their third clean sheet of the campaign.
Guardiola praises Southampton defending
Man City boss Pep Guardiola:
"The second half was much better but they defended so deep. I didn't expect it. We had four or five chances and unfortunately we could not score.
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