<p>Chelsea forced Manchester City to put their Premier League title party on hold on Saturday, winning 2-1 to boost their own chances of a top-four finish in a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final.</p>.<p>Raheem Sterling gave the home side the lead just before half-time at an empty Etihad Stadium.</p>.<p>Sergio Aguero then missed an attempted Panenka penalty for City before Hakim Ziyech levelled and Marcos Alonso bundled in the winner in the dying seconds.</p>.<p>City could be crowned champions before they play again. Second-placed Manchester United face three matches before Pep Guardiola's men are next in action, against Newcastle on Friday.</p>.<p>The three points lift Chelsea into third spot, six clear of fifth-placed West Ham with just three games to go.</p>.<p>Thomas Tuchel's in-form team ended City's dreams of a historic quadruple by beating them in the FA Cup semi-final last month and they once more proved tricky opponents.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="http://Tuchel hopes 'top guy' Kante can deliver Champions League title for Chelsea Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/tuchel-hopes-top-guy-kante-can-deliver-champions-league-title-for-chelsea-982627.html" target="_blank">Tuchel hopes 'top guy' Kante can deliver Champions League title for Chelsea</a></strong></p>.<p>City, who have a huge 13-point advantage over second-placed Manchester United, are certain to win their third Premier League title in four years but must now wait for it to be confirmed.</p>.<p>Guardiola made nine changes from the side that saw off Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in midweek, with Ederson and Ruben Dias the only players to keep their places.</p>.<p>Chelsea made five changes following their triumph over Real Madrid.</p>.<p>The home side dominated possession in the early stages, with Ferran Torres firing over after a thrust down the right and Benjamin Mendy shooting wide.</p>.<p>Sterling was booked in the 12th minute after catching Timo Werner with his studs but the punishment could have been worse.</p>.<p>Werner had the ball in the net just after the half-hour but he was well offside and Sterling had a shot at the other end but clear-cut chances were at a premium.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="http://Chelsea beats Madrid to set up all-English Champions League final vs City Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/chelsea-beats-madrid-to-set-up-all-english-champions-league-final-vs-city-982905.html" target="_blank">Chelsea beats Madrid to set up all-English Champions League final vs City</a></strong></p>.<p>Ziyech tested Ederson in the City goal as the half-time break neared but moments later the home side were ahead.</p>.<p>Gabriel Jesus shrugged off Andreas Christensen to break into the area. He squared, looking for Sergio Aguero. The Argentine's touch was poor but Sterling was on hand to tuck home.</p>.<p>City should have been 2-0 up in first-half stoppage time but Aguero paid the price for attempting a Panenka penalty that was easily saved by Edouard Mendy, drawing the ire of Guardiola.</p>.<p>Jesus won the spot-kick when he was bundled over by Billy Gilmour.</p>.<p>As the second half wore on the visitors started to establish a foothold and they equalised just after the hour when Rodri lost possession on the halfway line.</p>.<p>Chelsea broke down the right and Cesar Azpilicueta picked out Ziyech just outside the area. The Moroccan drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.</p>.<p>Guardiola threw on Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden for Torres and Aguero as his side went in search of the win.</p>.<p>Chelsea substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi had the ball in the net with about 10 minutes to go but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.</p>.<p>The finish was frantic. Sterling had a penalty appeal turned down and Alonso then grabbed a last-gasp winner after an assist from Werner.</p>.<p>Tuchel has transformed Chelsea's fortunes since replacing Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge in January, losing just two matches on his way to the FA Cup final and Champions League final.</p>.<p>Their remaining three league matches are against Arsenal, Leicester -- their FA Cup final opponents -- and Aston Villa but they will now be strongly fancied to qualify for the Champions League for the third season in a row.</p>
<p>Chelsea forced Manchester City to put their Premier League title party on hold on Saturday, winning 2-1 to boost their own chances of a top-four finish in a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final.</p>.<p>Raheem Sterling gave the home side the lead just before half-time at an empty Etihad Stadium.</p>.<p>Sergio Aguero then missed an attempted Panenka penalty for City before Hakim Ziyech levelled and Marcos Alonso bundled in the winner in the dying seconds.</p>.<p>City could be crowned champions before they play again. Second-placed Manchester United face three matches before Pep Guardiola's men are next in action, against Newcastle on Friday.</p>.<p>The three points lift Chelsea into third spot, six clear of fifth-placed West Ham with just three games to go.</p>.<p>Thomas Tuchel's in-form team ended City's dreams of a historic quadruple by beating them in the FA Cup semi-final last month and they once more proved tricky opponents.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="http://Tuchel hopes 'top guy' Kante can deliver Champions League title for Chelsea Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/tuchel-hopes-top-guy-kante-can-deliver-champions-league-title-for-chelsea-982627.html" target="_blank">Tuchel hopes 'top guy' Kante can deliver Champions League title for Chelsea</a></strong></p>.<p>City, who have a huge 13-point advantage over second-placed Manchester United, are certain to win their third Premier League title in four years but must now wait for it to be confirmed.</p>.<p>Guardiola made nine changes from the side that saw off Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in midweek, with Ederson and Ruben Dias the only players to keep their places.</p>.<p>Chelsea made five changes following their triumph over Real Madrid.</p>.<p>The home side dominated possession in the early stages, with Ferran Torres firing over after a thrust down the right and Benjamin Mendy shooting wide.</p>.<p>Sterling was booked in the 12th minute after catching Timo Werner with his studs but the punishment could have been worse.</p>.<p>Werner had the ball in the net just after the half-hour but he was well offside and Sterling had a shot at the other end but clear-cut chances were at a premium.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="http://Chelsea beats Madrid to set up all-English Champions League final vs City Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/chelsea-beats-madrid-to-set-up-all-english-champions-league-final-vs-city-982905.html" target="_blank">Chelsea beats Madrid to set up all-English Champions League final vs City</a></strong></p>.<p>Ziyech tested Ederson in the City goal as the half-time break neared but moments later the home side were ahead.</p>.<p>Gabriel Jesus shrugged off Andreas Christensen to break into the area. He squared, looking for Sergio Aguero. The Argentine's touch was poor but Sterling was on hand to tuck home.</p>.<p>City should have been 2-0 up in first-half stoppage time but Aguero paid the price for attempting a Panenka penalty that was easily saved by Edouard Mendy, drawing the ire of Guardiola.</p>.<p>Jesus won the spot-kick when he was bundled over by Billy Gilmour.</p>.<p>As the second half wore on the visitors started to establish a foothold and they equalised just after the hour when Rodri lost possession on the halfway line.</p>.<p>Chelsea broke down the right and Cesar Azpilicueta picked out Ziyech just outside the area. The Moroccan drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.</p>.<p>Guardiola threw on Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden for Torres and Aguero as his side went in search of the win.</p>.<p>Chelsea substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi had the ball in the net with about 10 minutes to go but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside.</p>.<p>The finish was frantic. Sterling had a penalty appeal turned down and Alonso then grabbed a last-gasp winner after an assist from Werner.</p>.<p>Tuchel has transformed Chelsea's fortunes since replacing Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge in January, losing just two matches on his way to the FA Cup final and Champions League final.</p>.<p>Their remaining three league matches are against Arsenal, Leicester -- their FA Cup final opponents -- and Aston Villa but they will now be strongly fancied to qualify for the Champions League for the third season in a row.</p>