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Fulham 0-3 Manchester City: Marching On

By J.C. Gonzalez

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City scores their team's third goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on March 13, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Adam Davy - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City scores their team's third goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester City at Craven Cottage on March 13, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Adam Davy - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City went 17 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, although rivals Man United retain two games in hand. Pep Guardiola went for an unorthodox tactical setup, playing all three of John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, and Rúben Dias in a back three with Benjamin Mendy and João Cancelo covering the wide areas.

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Sergio Agüero returned to the starting lineup and grabbed a goal from the penalty spot, while Gabriel Jesus was deployed out wide and continued his good form with a goal of his own. In the end, this was a straightforward affair for the runaway champions-elect against a relegation-threatened side.

John Stones continued his dizzying run of form, scoring yet again and keeping another clean sheet. The defender’s resurgence, along with the brilliance of Dias, has been the story of the season. This team has been built, unlike the previous title-winning sides under Guardiola, on the back of a strong defense.

This is something new, and if they can get Agüero anywhere near his best through the middle, there is no reason to believe this team cannot push on and make real noise in the Champions League.

Next. Manchester City 5-2 Southampton: A wild afternoon. dark

With the league season the team has had, I don’t believe the expectation should be to also win Europe’s premier trophy, but this team may be better equipped than any other of the Guardiola era to lift the trophy. Nearly all of Europe’s champions have been built on a rock-solid backline, and for the first time since the departure of Vincent Kompany, City have that once again. With Laporte getting regularly involved again as well, these are exciting times at the Etihad.