Aguero fires Man City to brink of title

LONDON: Man City moved to the brink of a third Premier League title in four seasons as a piece of magic by Sergio Aguero set them on the way to a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side were totally dominant but missing a cutting edge until Aguero’s stunning half-volley finish just before the hour mark broke Palace’s resolve at Selhurst Park.

A minute later Ferran Torres’s clinical low shot doubled City’s advantage and they could have racked up a bigger margin of victory as they turned on the style with Raheem Sterling denied by the woodwork and Joao Cancelo also going close. With four games left City have 80 points, 13 ahead of Man United who host Liverpool on Sunday knowing that defeat would seal the title for their neighbours.

“It was a long time that I hadn’t played 90 minutes,” Aguero, who scored only his second league goal of an injuryhit season, told BT Sport.

“The goal was good because maybe we can win the Premier League. We wait for tomorrow. Every game is difficult. Of course, if Liverpool win it’s better.”

Should United draw on Sunday they could still mathematically catch City but their goal difference is far inferior. If United win, City can seal the title by beating Chelsea next weekend.

After being left in the shade by Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp last season, Guardiola knows City are as good as champions. “We can start to put the champagne in the fridge—not to open yet, but it is there,” he said.

Leicester held SOUTHAMPTON:

Leicester’s bid for Champions League suffered a minor setback when they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with 10-man Southampton. Jonny Evans’ 68th-minute header earned third-placed Leicester a point following James WardProwse’s penalty opener for the battling hosts on Friday. Saints played for 80 minutes a man down after Jannik Vestergaard was sent off for bringing down Jamie Vardy on the edge of the hosts’ 18-yard box.

Lucky win for Atletico

ELCHE: Atletico stayed in charge of La Liga’s four-way title race by grinding out a 1-0 win at Elche but rode their luck to the extreme when the hosts missed a penalty in stoppage time. Marcos Llorente scored the only goal with a deflected shot in the 23rd minute but gave away the penalty in the 90th for a handball.

AFTER BEING LEFT IN THE SHADE BY LIVERPOOL’S JUERGEN KLOPP LAST SEASON, GUARDIOLA KNOWS CITY ARE AS GOOD AS CHAMPIONS.