Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City: Champions come from behind to win
Gabriel Jesus scored his first home goal of the season. His past 14 City goals were all away from home or at Wembley
Liverpool remain 10 points clear at the top of the table after an enthralling battle between their two nearest rivals saw Manchester City fight back from a goal down to beat Leicester.
Pep Guardiola's side stay third despite this impressive victory, a point behind the Foxes and 11 behind the leaders - who now have a game in hand - but this was a timely reminder of how good the defending champions are at their best.
Manchester City had to do it the hard way, falling behind to Jamie Vardy's superbly taken breakaway goal, but inspired by a magnificent performance by Kevin de Bruyne, they roared back to take the points.
Vardy silenced the Etihad Stadium when he raced on to Harvey Barnes' pass, out-paced Fernandinho and chipped Ederson to score with Leicester's first effort at goal.
The home side had dominated the early exchanges but, for the fourth home league game in a row, they found themselves behind and, just as in their defeat here by Manchester United, looking vulnerable to fast counter-attacks.
While that game had ended in demoralising defeat for Manchester City, this one would have a very different outcome.
Guardiola continued to urge his players forward, despite the danger posed by Vardy on the break, and they were soon level.
Riyad Mahrez, who was being half-heartedly booed by fans of his former club, cut in from the right and fired in a low shot that cannoned off Caglar Soyuncu and left Kasper Schmeichel helpless.
Leicester dug in, with Schmeichel making a series of saves to ensure the hosts had to wait to turn their vastly superior possession into further goals, but he could not delay the inevitable for long.
Three minutes before the break, Ricardo Pereira lunged in on Raheem Sterling inside the box and, after Mike Dean pointed to the spot, Ilkay Gundogan fired his penalty into the bottom corner.
Things continued in a similar pattern after half-time, with De Bruyne running the show and Leicester clinging on - knowing that while they were only one goal down they had a chance.
Mahrez and De Bruyne, who had hit the post when the score was 0-0, were unable to convert golden chances to finish the Foxes off but, fittingly, it was the Belgian who helped make the points safe with his 13th assist of the season.
He burst into the box with an unstoppable run down the right and squared for Gabriel Jesus to slide home his side's third goal at the far post.
De Bruyne departed, exhausted, to a standing ovation just before the end and was given a huge hug by his manager, both of which were fully deserved.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Man City
31Ederson
2Walker
25Fernandinho
30Otamendi
22Mendy
17De BruyneBooked at 59minsSubstituted forAgüeroat 90+1'minutes
8GündoganBooked at 71minsSubstituted forRodriat 79'minutes
20Bernardo Silva
26Mahrez
9Gabriel Jesus
7SterlingSubstituted forFodenat 89'minutes
Substitutes
1Bravo
10Agüero
11Zinchenko
16Rodri
27Cancelo
47Foden
50García
Leicester
1Schmeichel
21Ricardo Pereira
6Evans
4SöyüncüBooked at 35mins
3Chilwell
25NdidiBooked at 51mins
17PérezSubstituted forGrayat 68'minutes
8TielemansSubstituted forPraetat 77'minutes
10Maddison
15BarnesSubstituted forAlbrightonat 64'minutes
9Vardy
Substitutes
2Justin
5Morgan
7Gray
11Albrighton
12Ward
14Iheanacho
26Praet
Referee:
Mike Dean
Match Stats
Home TeamMan CityAway TeamLeicester
Possession
Home63%
Away37%
Shots
Home23
Away5
Shots on Target
Home12
Away2
Corners
Home6
Away1
Fouls
Home14
Away9
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Manchester City 3, Leicester City 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Manchester City 3, Leicester City 1.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+1'
Substitution, Manchester City. Sergio Agüero replaces Kevin De Bruyne because of an injury.
SubstitutionPosted at 89'
Substitution, Manchester City. Phil Foden replaces Raheem Sterling.
Posted at 81'
Attempt saved. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Riyad Mahrez.
Posted at 80'
Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
SubstitutionPosted at 79'
Substitution, Manchester City. Rodrigo replaces Ilkay Gündogan because of an injury.
SubstitutionPosted at 77'
Substitution, Leicester City. Dennis Praet replaces Youri Tielemans.
Posted at 75'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Kasper Schmeichel.
Posted at 75'
Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Benjamin Mendy.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City) header from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne with a cross following a corner.
Posted at 73'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Çaglar Söyüncü.
Posted at 73'
Attempt blocked. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan.
Posted at 72'
Foul by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Posted at 72'
Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 71'
Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 71'
Hand ball by James Maddison (Leicester City).
Goal!Posted at 69'
Goal! Manchester City 3, Leicester City 1. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
SubstitutionPosted at 68'
Substitution, Leicester City. Demarai Gray replaces Ayoze Pérez.
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Ayoze Pérez (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Youri Tielemans.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City).
Posted at 67'
Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 66'
Attempt saved. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Benjamin Mendy.
SubstitutionPosted at 64'
Substitution, Leicester City. Marc Albrighton replaces Harvey Barnes because of an injury.
Posted at 61'
Attempt missed. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jamie Vardy with a cross.
BookingPosted at 59'
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 59'
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
Posted at 59'
Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 58'
Attempt missed. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Posted at 57'
Hand ball by Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Posted at 56'
Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kyle Walker.
Posted at 54'
Attempt saved. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
Posted at 52'
Offside, Manchester City. Kevin De Bruyne tries a through ball, but Bernardo Silva is caught offside.
BookingPosted at 51'
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 51'
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 51'
Foul by Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City).
Posted at 50'
Offside, Leicester City. Ben Chilwell tries a through ball, but Jamie Vardy is caught offside.
Posted at 49'
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 49'
Foul by Youri Tielemans (Leicester City).
Posted at 47'
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
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goal
Source: bbc.com
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