Southampton 0–0 Manchester City: Haaland returns but City fail to fire as Champions League race stays wide open | OneFootball

Manchester City missed the chance to tighten their grip on a top-five finish after a frustrating goalless draw with already-relegated Southampton at St Mary’s. Pep Guardiola’s side were dominant in possession but wasteful in front of goal, and they now sit four points clear of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest – who still hold a game in hand in the race for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The hosts, meanwhile, avoided equalling Derby County’s infamous 11-point Premier League total from 2007/08 and kept their first clean sheet in nine matches, with Aaron Ramsdale producing a string of vital saves.

As it happened

Guardiola’s reshuffled midfield saw Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva deployed in deeper roles as Kevin De Bruyne floated freely behind Erling Haaland. The Belgian playmaker was at the heart of City’s early control, seeing a free-kick fly just over the bar before teeing up Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden with clever deliveries.

Despite enjoying more than 80% possession in the opening stages, City struggled to carve out clear chances. Haaland twice got in behind but was thwarted by excellent defensive interventions, while Ramsdale’s fingertip save denied Ruben Dias’ header in the first half.

Southampton offered rare forays forward through Kamaldeen Sulemana and Mateus Fernandes, though neither was able to truly test Ederson. Flynn Downes and Jan Bednarek were impressive in marshaling the Saints’ low block, with captain Jack Stephens making a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Silva after the break.

The game opened up late on as Guardiola turned to his bench, introducing Savinho, O’Reilly and Marmoush. Haaland laid on a golden chance for both Savinho and O’Reilly, but neither substitute could convert with the goal gaping. Moments later, Marmoush rattled the bar with a curled effort, and Ramsdale denied Haaland and Silva in quick succession.

The lineups

SOU: Ramsdale; Stephens, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis; Bree, Downes, Ugochukwu, Welington; Fernandes, Sulemana; Dibling.

MCI: Ederson; Gvardiol, Dias, Akanji, Lewis; Kovacic, Silva; Foden, De Bruyne, McAtee; Haaland.