Manchester City picked up a much-needed Premier League win as they defeated a spirited Leicester side at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
Savinho and Erling Haaland scored the goals for Pep Guardiola’s side, but the Foxes caused City plenty of problems in a game that might have turned out differently had the hosts not reached an erratic finish.
The result moves City, who were looking to improve after just one win from 13 games, to fifth place in the table.
Meanwhile, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team remains in the bottom three places.
Finish the year with all three points!
0-2
#ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/OnFKUlUnZs
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 29, 2024
How it developed
Guardiola’s team started at the front. Kevin De Bruyne shot over the ball before Jakub Stolarczyk did a good job of parrying a shot from Haaland.
But once again City looked vulnerable at the change. After a Leicester counterattack, the returning Jamie Vardy was knocked down by Stefan Ortega in the penalty area, but the offside flag had already been raised.
Vardy had another chance when he pounced on Josko Gvardiol’s loose header, but Ortega was level.
A few moments later the visitors broke the deadlock when Savinho reacted quickest to Stolarczyk’s save and scored his first league goal in a City shirt.
Leicester got a lot of possession after falling behind, but failed to make a clear breakthrough. Facundo Buonanotte was just millimeters away from a tempting cross from Bilal El Khannouss.
Haaland should have doubled City’s lead in the 35th minute when he weaved between two Leicester players but fired his shot wide.
As the game became more open, Buonanotte hit the post with a header, but City went into half-time with a goal.
Savinho pounces and Man City leads!
pic.twitter.com/k8pQmq3WkC
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
After the break, Leicester seemed to be the team on the rise. El Khannouss curled his shot just over the bar, while James Justin’s shot from close range was cleared off the line.
The noise at the King Power Stadium increased. And it would probably have erupted if Vardy had done better with Stephy Mavididi’s precise cross just after the hour mark.
But City survived and, contrary to the run of play, extended their lead when Haaland headed in Savinho’s ball into the box.
“The smile is back!”
Erling Haaland makes it 2-0 for Manchester City! pic.twitter.com/RgWPjiw0mO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
The Norwegian’s smile has been conspicuously absent in recent weeks, but here the grin was back: one that summed up the feelings of every City fan at the final whistle.
On the day Guardiola celebrated his 500th game as City manager, the feeling of relief was overwhelming.
