[ad_1]
Manchester City were simply too good for Leicester as they continued their march to the Premier League title with a 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium.
Man City completely dominated in all areas, but the scoreboard remained scoreless in the first half, drawing closer through Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick off the crossbar as Leicester failed to register a single shot, touching the ball only once in the opposition area.
The champions-elect deserved their first goal through Benjamin Mendy (58), only his second goal for Man City, who calmly marched home from 12 yards after a clever return in the area.
Pep Guardiola’s team closed out the victory through birthday boy Gabriel Jesus (74), initially played with a needle-eye pass from De Bruyne, before exchanging passes with Raheem Sterling from close range and converting from close range.
The result means that Man City is 17 points ahead of second-placed Man Utd, who has two games in hand, and is a maximum of 11 points away from securing the title. In the race for the top four, West Ham, which is in fifth place, will be just four points behind Leicester if they beat the Wolves in Monday night football.
How Man City lit it up to break Leicester
Six of Man City’s starting XIs did not participate in international service as Pep Guardiola made another four changes, bringing his trade count from the starting XI to 98 this season, more than any other Premier League team.
The visitors thought they were ahead in the opening minutes when Fernandinho’s 25-yard shot found the bottom corner, but Sergio Agüero was in an offside position and in goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s eye line.
Man City were ruling the ball in the first half, in a six-minute span, they had 100 percent possession and the Foxes didn’t complete a single pass, as Leicester struggled to get out of their half. As De Bruyne said after the game: “There was only one team playing.”
Benjamin Mendy celebrates after giving Man City the advantage
The game followed a similar pattern to the opening stages of their 5-2 victory at the Etihad in September, where Leicester backed down and forced City to over-commit, but the outcome was different this time against a more team. intelligent of Pep Guardiola.
De Bruyne hit a fortuitously won free kick against the crossbar from the edge of the area and Riyad Mahrez’s low shot of a clever move by Gabriel Jesus was saved by Schmeichel’s feet, but Leicester kept the leaders away without posing. any threats themselves.
Leicester’s only moment in the first half was in injury time when Jamie Vardy circled Ederson and converted a pass from Ayoze Perez, but the offside flag was up to properly deny it.
Man City was making “the Premier League third team look like it’s bottom league” with its dominance, according to Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp, but Leicester started brilliantly in the second half.
After Fernandinho fumbled in midfield, Kelechi Iheanacho released Youri Tielemans at a slight angle to the right of the penalty area, and Ruben Dias brilliantly blocked his low shot on goal.
Gabriel Jesus celebrates after doubling Man City’s lead
Man City finally made the breakthrough just before the hour via an unlikely source, the ball smashed towards Mendy in the box before the Frenchman composed himself, flipped Marc Albrighton and got his right foot into the corner. lower from 12 yards.
Although he did not receive the assist, De Bruyne played a significant role in the second, playing Jesus with a world-class pass. Jesus was squared off for Sterling, who returned the favor by seating Ricardo Pereira and feeding Jesus to push home until an empty net from nearby.
De Bruyne should have had an assist moments later when he slipped through Mahrez one-on-one with Schmeichel, but the former Leicester player seized his clear opportunity.
The score in no way complimented Man City. They showed the cunning and ruthless advantage they were missing in September’s tough loss to Leicester, which came a day before the £ 65m investment in Dias, which was once again compelling on Saturday. Meanwhile, Leicester hopes this isn’t the start of a similar slump that saw them fall outside the top four last season.
What the managers said
Leicester Chief Brendan rodgers: “For much of the first half we defended well, we were tired in our game. Technically we were not as good as usual. We are disappointed with the goals, they came when we were starting to chase the game.
“Other than that, we had a few chances, but the best team won the match. We have no excuses.
“We do not show the quality that we have, but that comes with a bit of fatigue at times. Our organization was good, but sometimes we did not manage to cross the field well.”
“If you fit against a team with such quality, they can hide the ball from you. We’ve been brilliant this season with what we’ve had to deal with, injuries and stuff, so now we can bounce back for a few days and freshen up.” the boys upstairs. “
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: “They are an incredible team, we suffered at home against them but we have more patience and it is a great step to win the Premier League.
“You never know after an international break but I trust my players. The players don’t always believe me but I like them all, today I trust some of my players who haven’t played for a long time. When you’re winning, winning, the guys who play they know they have to play well to play again. There is good solidarity between the players.
“The Premier League is the most beautiful competition [to win]It’s 11 months and it’s very difficult. We are close. We need three more victories.
“Sergio Agüero is fine, his knee is perfect. He needs the rhythm of the games but we need fresh players. I am delighted with the way he trained this week, nothing is going to change. Maybe one day we will need the only goal to win.” something and he will be there. “
Man of the match – Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne shoots on target
Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports:
“We’ve talked about the best forwards in the Premier League before, but when it comes to the best passers in the league, Kevin De Bruyne is the best the Premier League has seen. I’ve never seen anyone like him. The weight of the ball. , the killer ball passes, the precision, it’s just phenomenal. “
Micah Richards on Sky Sports:
“He has to be among the best midfielders in the world. He is very difficult to score because he always finds that little space. He can play with his left foot, his right foot, and he always looks to pass forward when he gets into the ball. He can do absolutely all “.
Dominant Man City – Opta Stats
- Manchester City have won each of their last 15 away games in all competitions and are undefeated in 18 on the road (16 wins and 2 draws), last losing an away game in November 2020 against Tottenham. (0-2 in the Premier League).
- Man City have kept more clean sheets (28) and conceded fewer goals (26) in all competitions this season than any other team in the five best leagues in Europe.
- Leicester failed a single shot in the first half for the first time in a Premier League match since December 2019 against Liverpool.
- Jamie Vardy had 14 touches against Manchester City, 28 fewer than any other outfielder who played 90 minutes.
- Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus has scored in five of his six Premier League appearances against Leicester (five goals), and has only scored more against Everton (seven) at the top flight.
Whats Next?
Sunday April 11 2:00 p.m.
Starts at 2:05 pm
Leicester will now go to West Ham next Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 2.05pm, while Manchester City host Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at 8pm on Tuesday, before hosting Leeds in the Premier League at 12.30pm Saturday.
[ad_2]
