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Goals from Savinho and Erling Haaland secured victory for Manchester City at Leicester, snapping a four-game winless streak for the Premier League champions.
However, it was far from a convincing win, with Leicester matching Pep Guardiola’s side for good chances created and hitting the post twice. Ruud van Nistelrooy will surely think he could easily get something out of the match.
The crucial moment came midway through the second half when Jamie Vardy failed to head Steffi Mavididis’ cross from six yards to equalise.
Six minutes later, Haaland made no mistake to head home a cross from Savinho, who had earlier scored his first goal for the club.
The win moves City up to fifth in the table, while Leicester remain third in the Premier League.
Talking Point – A small step in the right direction
“City are back” was sung by the away fans, but it seems to be a trend at this performance. To be fair, the guests were chanting “stand up” earlier.
Rodri’s huge hole remains evident, both in the way Leicester were able to move the ball around the center of the park with ease and the static nature of their own transition at times.
The Foxes on another day could have scored at least two themselves and the ease with which their players found themselves in space in the penalty area will be worrying for Guardiola and will not go unpunished against other teams.
Kevin De Bruyne’s presence certainly gave City more stability, though, playing purposeful balls into the final third instead of the predictable possession teams that have felt easier to stop this season.
Perhaps the best indication of City’s current mentality was Stefan Ortega’s yellow card for time wasting with ten minutes remaining in the game. It is not a caution one would expect to play against relegation-threatened opponents.
Man of the Match – Bilal El Hanous (Leicester City)
Without a real performance, the 20-year-old Moroccan takes the award. One second-half moment shone in particular when, under pressure from fellow Northern Belgium-born star Kevin De Bruyne, he produced a back-heeled drag back before hitting a perfect 40-yard ball. Most of his best work came in the opposition half, when he consistently beat opposing players and fed the ball to teammates in dangerous areas.
Player Ratings:
Leicester City: Stolarczyk 7; Justin 6, Coady 6, Vestergaard 6, Kristiansen 6; Winks 7, Soumare 7; Mavididi 7, El Khannous 8*, Buonanotte 7; Vardy 6.
Subs: Choudhury 7, Daka 6, Okoli 6, Alves.
Man City: Ortega 7; Lewis 7, Akanji 6, Ake 6, Guardiol 6; Kovacic 6; Foden 6, De Bruyne 7, Bernardo 6, Savinho 7; Haaland 7.
Subs: McAtee 7, Walker 6.
Match highlights
8′ GOOD POSITION FROM STOLARCIK Lewis finds De Bruyne near the byline and pulls back for Haaland whose low shot is blocked and deflected off the Leicester keeper’s legs.
20′ GREAT STOP FROM ORTEGA Gvardiol’s header back at his keeper was read by Vardy and he powered past the Man City stopper, but from a tight angle his effort was saved by Ortega.
21′ GOAL! LEICESTER 0-1 MAN CITY (SAVINIO) Foden struck low from 25 yards and Stolarczyk pushed wide but the Brazilian winger smashed the ball into the net for his first goal for the club.
39′ OFF POST! El Khannous played a cross to the back post which Ake half-cleared and, after Justin’s header was blocked, Buonanotte’s header had beaten Ortega but came back off the post.
68′ MAVIDIDI WITH A BIG TURN He finds Vardy behind Ake six yards out but the striker sticks out a leg and drives the ball just over the bar.
74′ GOAL! LEICESTER 0-2 MAN CITY (HAALAND) On the break, there was good work from McAtee down the right and then De Bruyne played in Savinho, who produced a perfect cross for Haaland to pounce and head past Stolarczyk and into the net.
90′ OUT OF THE TEAR! Mavididis’ cross finds Vardy at the back post but his header clips the top of the bar.
