MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― Carlos Tevez played in his first game since Sept. 27 and set up Samir Nasri’s late go-ahead goal, giving Manchester City a 2-1 comeback win against Chelsea on Wednesday night that kept pressure on Premier League leader Manchester United.

Tevez entered in the 66th minute to a mixture of boos and cheers, his first appearance since he was suspended for refusing to warm up for a Champions League match at Bayern Munich. Tevez assisted on the tiebreaking goal in the 85th with a brilliant deft pass on a turn, allowing Nasri to lift a shot over goalkeeper Petr Cech.

“When he plays he knows where to put the ball,” City manager Roberto Mancini said. “Carlos did an important pass for Samir, all the fans are happy for this.”

With its club record 20th straight home league win, City (22-4-3) pulled one point behind defending champion United (22-3-4) with nine games left.

Mancini said Tevez needed time to regain full fitness.

“He has showed great spirit and today showed he can be really important until the end of the season,” Nasri said.

Arsenal (17-8-4) moved up to a season-high third place with a 1-0 win at Everton on Thomas Vermaelen’s eighth-minute goal.

Spain

Spanish leader Real Madrid wasted a lead for the second time in four days when it again conceded a goal on a late free kick in a 1-1 tie at Villarreal.

Real Madrid (23-2-3) saw its lead over three-time defending champion Barcelona (20-2-6) cut from 10 points to six with the two draws.

Cristiano Ronaldo put Madrid ahead in the 62nd minute with his 43rd goal of the season and 33rd in the league, one behind Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

But Marcos Senna bent his free kick around the defensive wall in the 83rd, just as Malaga’s Santi Cazorla did in injury time Sunday.