MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City midfielder Rodri was sent for grabbing an opponent by the neck, in a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday that extending the defending champions’ unblemished start to their Premier League championship defense.
The first 14 minutes saw goals from Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, but after Rodri was dismissed just one minute into the second half, City focused more on defense.
When Morgan Gibbs-White shoved him close to the corner flag, the Spain international pushed back by getting chest to chest with the Forest playmaker and twice putting both of his hands around his neck. After the second time, Gibbs-White fell to the ground, and the referee immediately issued a straight red card for violent behavior.
Rodri will be absent from City’s next three games, including a trip to potential championship contender Arsenal on October 8. . Rodri scored the winning goal for City in the Champions League final last season and is probably the team’s most crucial player.
Despite Forest having more control in the second half, City, which has already won its first six games of the season, had little trouble maintaining its lead. Haaland only had one opportunity after the break to add to his eight league goals this season. On a counterattack, the striker from Norway mishit a close-range volley from Nathan Ake, a substitute.
To build on Foden’s opening goal from a 46-pass move in the seventh minute, Haaland had to settle for scoring a strong header into the top corner of the goal in the 14th minute from Matheus Nunes’ right-wing cross. According to stats company Opta, this was the second-longest passing move to result in a Premier League goal since data was compiled in 2006-07.
Kyle Walker assisted Foden’s left-footed goal into the bottom corner after Rodri’s sharp ball to the right side.
Anthony Elanga attempted a volley in stoppage time, but City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes made a fantastic diving save to keep the visitors clean.
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