Manchester City vs Watford: Gabriel Jesus scores four goals as Man City win 5-1

Premier League leaders Manchester City thrashed Watford 5-1 at Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The win helped Pep Guardiola’s side to move four points clear of second-placed Liverpool, who will face Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday. Man City striker Gabriel Jesus was undoubtedly the star performer of the day as the Brazilian found the back of the net four times to lead his side to a dominant win against relegation-threatened Hornets. Meanwhile Rodri was the only other goal scorer for the hosts and Hassane Kamara’s first-half goal proved to be just a consolation for Watford.

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A big win! ?

? 5-1 ? #ManCity pic.twitter.com/3J4vvs4EeE

— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 23, 2022

Man City made a brilliant start to the game, taking the lead inside the opening four minutes. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross from the left was turned in from six yards by Jesus. Immediately at the other end, Zinchenko made a brilliant tackle to deny Emmanuel Dennis who was in a  one-on-one situation with Ederson. 

Jesus doubled the lead on 23 minutes with arguably one of the easiest goals he will score this season. The 25-year-old headed home from a brilliant curling cross by Kevin de Bruyne. But five minutes later, the visitors pulled one back through Kamara. The Ivorian left-back ran on to an angled pass by Dennis and hit a first-time drive across Ederson. 

Rodri’s brilliant strike

Rodri restored Man City’s two-goal cushion in the 34th minute. The Spaniard took Jesus’s pass on the chest, waited for the ball to bounce and then struck it into the top corner from 25 yards out. 

Jesus completed his hat-trick four minutes after the break. Watford conceded a penalty immediately after the restart, Jesus stepped up and converted the spot kick to make it 3-1. And then, four minutes after the goal, the Brazilian got his fourth of the night when he slapped home from Ben Foster’s assist. 

The Hornets were simply outclassed by the league leaders, who will hope for a similar showing when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League Semi-final first leg fixture on Tuesday evening.