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When even Benjamin Mendy is scoring, it’s a sign of how well the quad chase is going for Manchester City.
With the international break over, the runaway leaders began the Premier League title duel with a 2-0 win over Leicester, started by Mendy breaking the deadlock on Saturday.
After Riyad Mahrez’s shot was cleared by Kasper Schmeichel, Mendy finally received the ball to curve into a low shot that passed the Leicester goalkeeper in the 58th minute.
After failing to score in his first 39 league games for City, the third left-back now has two in his last six, as Pep Guardiola’s team closes in on a third title in four seasons.
There was a more familiar name on the score sheet for the second in the 74th minute and a familiar creator of the goal.
After a precision pass from Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus passed to Raheem Sterling, who returned the ball for the forward to finish rather than shoot himself.
In the week that City looked to the future with the announcement of Sergio Agüero’s departure at the end of the season, this was Gabriel Jesus’ fourth goal in as many league games on the Brazilian’s 24th birthday.
Sterling had entered the second half for Aguero after starting three times for England in the World Cup qualifiers.
With center back John Stones and left-back Joao Cancelo as unused substitutes at King Power Stadium, this was a lineup that showed the depth of quality available as City went 17 points ahead of Manchester United with seven games remaining, after having played two more games than your neighbor. .
The title is sure to be sealed long before the final week of the season, when fans will finally be able to return to the Premier League grounds.
As this pandemic-packed season draws to a close, Guardiola will need to make use of the team with City also chasing Champions League glory, with the quarter-finals against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday in the FA Cup. with a semi-final against Chelsea in two weeks, and a quicker shot at a title with this month’s League Cup final against Tottenham.
Leicester could still face City in the FA Cup final. Play Southampton in the semi-finals.
More valuable than a trophy for Leicester will be a return to the Champions League.
Leicester missed a chance to displace United from second place, but was helped by Chelsea, fourth place, who lost to West Bromwich Albion as the 2016 champions seek Champions League qualification for the first time since.
(Disclaimer: This story has not been edited by www.republicworld.com and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
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