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Manchester City picked up a much-needed win in the Premier League by beating a spirited Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
Savinho and Erling Haaland grabbed the goals for Pep Guardiola’s side, but the Foxes gave City plenty of trouble in a match that might have had a different outcome had it not been for some wayward finishing from the hosts.
The result moved City, who were looking to improve their run of just one win in 13 games, to fifth in the table.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, meanwhile, remain in the bottom three.
Rounding off the year with all three points! 🌟
🦊 0-2 🩵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/OnFKUlUnZs
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 29, 2024
How it unfolded
Guardiola’s team started on the front foot. Kevin De Bruyne exploded before Jakub Stolarczyk made a good save from Haaland.
But City again looked vulnerable in transition. After Leicester’s counterattack, the returning Jamie Vardy was transferred by Stefan Ortega in the penalty area, but the offside flag had already been raised.
Vardy had another chance when he ran into Josko Guardiola’s loose header, but Ortega was equal.
Moments later, the visitors broke the deadlock when Savinho reacted quickest to Stolarczyk’s parry to score his first league goal in a City shirt.
Leicester saw a lot of the ball after going behind but couldn’t cut anything clear. Facundo Buonanotte was millimeters from connecting with Bilal El Khannoussa’s teasing cross.
Haaland should have doubled City’s lead in the 35th minute when he slipped between two Leicester players but sent his shot wide.
As the game began to open up, Buonanotte then hit the post with a header, however, City went into half-time with a good goal.
Savinho shoots and Man City takes the lead! 💥 pic.twitter.com/k8pQmq3WkC
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
After the break, Leicester looked like a team on the rise. El Khannouss shot narrowly over the bar, while James Justin’s shot from close range was cleared off the line.
The noise inside the King Power Stadium was getting louder. And he probably would have erupted if Vardy had done better with Stephy Mavididi’s pinpoint cross just after the hour mark.
But City survived and, very much against the run of play, extended their lead when Haaland headed in Savinho’s cross into the penalty area.
“The smile is back!” 😁
Erling Haaland scores 2-0 for Manchester City! pic.twitter.com/RgWPjiw0mO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
The Norwegian’s smile had been noticeably absent in recent weeks, but here it was back: one that summed up the feeling of all City fans after the final whistle.
On a day when Guardiola celebrated his 500th game in charge of City, there was a sense of relief.
