With their 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, Chelsea not only kept a firm grip on their seven-point lead in the Premier League but they pulled off something no other club has against a Pep Guardiola-managed club.
Coupled with their 3-1 away victory over City at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, Chelsea are the first club ever to beat a side Pep was in charge of in both the home and the away league matches in a single season. This includes the Spaniard’s historic run at Barcelona and short stint at Bayern Munich.
CHL 2-1 MCI (FT) - Chelsea is the first opponent to beat a Guardiola's side home and away in the league in a single season.
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) April 5, 2017
Credit must be given to Antonio Conte for this feat, making the necessary changes both in the starting lineup and at half-time to adjust for Victor Moses’s absence. Nemanja Matic’s introduction allowed Chelsea to play some excellent defense, kill off the match, and see out the three points.
Wednesday’s win, as massive as it was, may not have had the emotional resonance of Chelsea’s 2-2 draw against Barcelona in 2012, but it’s safe to say that Pep hasn’t had to deal with the likes of Conte’s Chelsea in league play before.