Manchester City tightened the race at the top of the 2025–26 Premier League on Saturday, February 28, 2026, edging Leeds United 1–0 at Elland Road to move just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with both teams having played 28 matches.
The decisive moment arrived in first-half injury time when Antoine Semenyo slid home from close range after a well-worked City move that saw Rayan Aït-Nouri set him up on the left flank. That finish marked Semenyo’s sixth goal for City since joining from Bournemouth in January, and proved enough to secure all three points.
City were without their top scorer Erling Haaland, who missed the trip to Leeds after picking up a minor injury in training earlier in the week, but the visitors showed resilience to grind out a win despite his absence.
Leeds started the match strongly and created several good early opportunities, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin among those guilty of missing chances that could have put the home side ahead.
As the first half progressed, City settled into the game and began to control possession, gradually asserting themselves before Semenyo’s breakthrough just before the break.
The second half was largely scrappy, with few clear openings for either team. City’s defence held firm, managing to keep Leeds at bay as the hosts pushed in search of an equaliser.
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In the closing stages, Leeds continued to press, and Jaka Bijol came close with a late header that narrowly missed, but City’s back line and goalkeeper stood firm to protect their slender lead.
The match ended on a dramatic note as Leeds manager Daniel Farke was shown a red card after confronting the referee over perceived time-wasting decisions following the final whistle.
With the win, Manchester City collected their fifth league victory in six games, underlining their title credentials as they close in on Arsenal at the summit.
Leeds stay in mid-table, sitting comfortably clear of the relegation zone, while City now await Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea as the title race remains finely poised.
