Enzo Fernández Strikes in Stoppage Time to Salvage Chelsea a Point Against Manchester City

Key Takeaways:

• Chelsea secured a 1-1 draw at Manchester City as Enzo Fernández scored a dramatic equaliser in added time
• This result allowed Arsenal to extend their lead at the summit to 6 points over both City and Aston Villa after the 20th Premier League round
• City suffered injury woes with Joško Gvardiol forced off, while interim boss Calum McFarlane’s Chelsea have now gone four league games without a win

Match Analysis

Manchester City dropped further two points in the title race following a tense 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in the 20th round of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s side took the lead through Tijjani Reijnders in the 42nd minute after a dominant first-half display, but failed to capitalise on their superiority. Chelsea punished that wastefulness, as Enzo Fernández pounced to equalise with a composed finish in the 94th minute, silencing the home crowd and delivering a boost to league leaders Arsenal.

City appeared in control throughout the first 45 minutes and could have been further ahead, with Erling Haaland striking the post and Bernard Silva going close. Defensive frailties resurfaced for Chelsea initially, but fortunes shifted in a second half where the London side grew into the contest.

Late drama at the Etihad sees Enzo Fernandez earn @ChelseaFC a point against @ManCity 😮 pic.twitter.com/3ILkYkKWn4

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 4, 2026

Team News and Selection

Pep Guardiola was forced into several changes due to a mounting injury list including Savinho, Nico González, Oscar Bobb, Mateo Kovačić, and John Stones, while Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri were absent due to Africa Cup of Nations duties. Rodri was restored to midfield at the expense of the injured González, Tijjani Reijnders returned for Savinho, and Joško Gvardiol was selected ahead of Nathan Aké in defence. Erling Haaland spearheaded the attack, flanked by Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden.

Chelsea’s interim manager Calum McFarlane also faced injury and suspension headaches. The absences of Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, Dário Essugo, Levi Colwill (all injured) and the suspended Moisés Caicedo limited his options. João Pedro led the line, with Pedro Neto and Cole Palmer supporting, while Reece James stepped into midfield for Caicedo, and Benoît Badiashile was favoured over Wesley Fofana in central defence. Filip Jørgensen came in for the injured Robert Sánchez in goal.

Key Match Events

The match started quietly, with Chelsea enjoying the first real opportunity in the 19th minute through Estevão, whose shot was blocked by Gvardiol. City responded instantly as Foden flashed a dangerous effort wide and continued to pile on the pressure. Haaland rattled the woodwork just before half-time, but it was Reijnders who broke the deadlock two minutes prior to the interval, latching onto a loose clearance from Badiashile and hammering home with his left foot.

Chelsea nearly responded immediately after the restart when Neto fired over from inside the penalty area. City’s Joško Gvardiol suffered a knock and had to be replaced by Abdukodir Khusanov, compounding Guardiola’s defensive concerns. Haaland produced a fine solo effort but saw his shot blocked by Badiashile, and later City’s penalty appeals for a foul on Cherki were dismissed by Michael Oliver. Substitute Liam Delap finally registered Chelsea’s first shot on target in the 72nd minute, but Donnarumma was equal to it.

Tensions escalated near the end as Delap’s robust challenge on Khusanov sparked a heated confrontation, resulting in several bookings. City looked poised to claim all three points until stoppage time, when Malo Gusto’s delivery from the right was mishandled by Aké. Although Donnarumma denied Fernández’s first effort, the Argentine reacted swiftly to steer in the rebound and earn Chelsea a point against the run of play.

Recent Head-to-Head and Implications for the Table

City maintain an edge in the rivalry with three wins and three draws from their last six official meetings against Chelsea. The previous match, played on 25 January 2025, saw City secure a 3-1 home victory. However, this result means Chelsea, currently in fifth, continue their inconsistent run with four league matches without a win. Meanwhile, Arsenal now hold a six-point advantage at the top following consecutive slip-ups by Guardiola’s men.