CHELSEA 0::3 MANCHESTER CITY
A Sergio Aguero hat-trick moved Manchester City closer to securing Champions League football next season with victory at 10-man Chelsea.
City profited from slick break-aways, the first goal arriving when Kevin De Bruyne fed Aguero, who fired in.
Again De Bruyne led a clinical counter after the break, finding Samir Nasri, who put Aguero clear to finish smartly.
Thibaut Courtois was sent off for fouling Fernandinho, allowing Aguero to whip home his third from the spot.
Chelsea threatened occasionally before the goals but faded and City move third, a point ahead of Arsenal - who have a game in hand - and four clear of Manchester United.
When this fixture was scheduled last year, it seemed unthinkable that only one of these sides - the last two winners of the Premier League - would be battling for a top-four spot.
They have both underachieved, but City at least have targets as the season draws to a close and they were clearly sharper in west London, none more so than Aguero.
The Argentinian has now scored at least 20 goals in three Premier League seasons, a feat only achieved by Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Les Ferdinand.
City's red-hot duo
There can be little doubt City's season has gained a new lease of life in recent weeks and it is notable it has coincided with the return of De Bruyne from a lengthy injury lay-off.
Both he and Samir Nasri drew saves from Thibaut Courtois in the opening period but it was De Bruyne who always looked likely to turn defence into attack for the away side.
When the Belgian suffered knee-ligament damage in January, City were second in the table, three points behind leaders Leicester. They managed just two wins in seven league games without him and one wonders how close they would be to lifting the title now had he stayed fit.
He has now had a hand in 28 goals this season - scoring 15 and creating 13 - and encouragingly for manager Manuel Pellegrini with a Champions League semi-final to come, his relationship with the clinical Aguero looks sharper than ever.
Aguero, who now has 13 goals in 12 league games, will deservedly make headlines. But in De Bruyne, he once again has a support act boasting pace and guile in abundance. Could it be that the enforced rest through injury has left him fresh to do damage at the business end of the season?
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