
By Martin Graham | twenty ninth Dec 2024
Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola celebrated his five hundredth match on the helm with a difficult 2-0 win over Leicester Metropolis on the King Energy Stadium. The consequence supplied solely a minor reprieve in what has been a dismal stretch for the reigning Premier League champions, marking simply their second league win in 10 video games. Regardless of the victory, Metropolis stays in fifth place, 11 factors adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who’re set to face West Ham later within the day.
Confidence seems fragile inside Guardiola’s squad, a sentiment underscored by a tense encounter towards a Leicester facet managed by Ruud van Nistelrooy. The hosts, now mired within the relegation zone, pressed onerous for a consequence, with Jamie Vardy coming shut on a number of events and Facundo Buonanotte hanging the put up.
Savinho and Haaland prepared the ground
Savinho opened the scoring within the twenty first minute, registering his first objective for Metropolis. The younger winger capitalized on a rebound after Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk parried Phil Foden’s preliminary effort. His medical end from shut vary gave the guests an early benefit.
Erling Haaland added the decisive second objective late within the match. The Norwegian striker headed house a cross from Savinho with 16 minutes remaining, dashing Leicester’s hopes of a comeback. Haaland’s effort adopted a missed alternative by Vardy, who struck the bar moments earlier.
Leicester’s woes deepen
For Leicester, the defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss and fifth in seven matches since Steve Cooper’s departure in November. The Foxes initially confirmed promise underneath Van Nistelrooy however now discover themselves struggling to remain afloat. Vardy and James Justin got here near equalizing, with Justin’s effort cleared off the road by Manuel Akanji.
Leicester’s incapacity to transform possibilities highlighted the frailty that has plagued them in latest weeks. Whereas Metropolis’s backline confirmed vulnerability, the house facet did not capitalize, leaving Guardiola’s group to flee with a much-needed, if unconvincing, victory.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports activities author