Premier League – Gündogan brace: ManCity extends their lead over Arsenal

Defending champions Manchester City have consolidated their pole position in the fight for the English championship thanks to captain Ilkay Gündogan. The table leaders won against relegation candidate Leeds United 2-1 (2-0) after a brace from the international.

With four games to go, the lead over pursuers Arsenal is four points.

Midfielder Gündogan redeemed the Skyblues with his fifth and sixth goals of the season (19th/27th), he scored both goals from a similar position on the edge of the penalty area. In the 84th minute, he missed the chance of a three-pack after a missed penalty kick. Rodrigo Moreno’s goal a minute later came too late for Leeds.

Although team manager Pep Guardiola made seven starting XI changes in view of the first leg in the Champions League semifinals on Tuesday evening (9 p.m.) at Real Madrid, City acted confidently for a long time. Record scorer Erling Haaland, who broke the supposedly all-time Premier League season record of 35 goals against West Ham United, missed various opportunities.

Tottenham Hotspur improved their chances of international places by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 (1-0) as they were sixth in the table. Harry Kane (45+1) scored his 209th Premier League goal, overtaking former England team-mate Wayne Rooney and the sole second in all-time goalscoring list. Alan Shearer is still ahead (260 goals).

Chelsea ended their run of six competitive defeats in a row with a 3-1 (1-1) win at newly promoted AFC Bournemouth.