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Leicester vs Man City LIVE: Result and reaction as Haaland ends goal drought in vital City win

Leicester 0-2 Man City: Savinho and Haaland find the net as Pep Guardiola’s side are forced to work hard but notch just a second victory in 14 games

Luke Baker
Sunday 29 December 2024 16:42 GMT
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Pep Guardiola ready to go shopping in January as Man City draw with Everton

Manchester City ended their five-game winless run as Pep Guardiola celebrated victory in his 500th game in charge with a 2-0 success at Leicester City.

Savinho’s first-half goal and an Erling Haaland header after the break earned a much-needed three points for the faltering champions at the King Power Stadium.

It was just their second Premier League victory since the end of October, but the frailties of the last two months – where they lost nine of their previous 13 matches – were still on show.

Leicester provided a stern test and might feel they could have got something out of the match as Facundo Buonanotte hit the post and Jamie Vardy missed a key chance at 1-0 down. The Foxes have now lost four in a row and their bounce under new boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was restricted to two games as they remain in the relegation zone.

Relive all the action from the King Power Stadium in our live blog below:

KICK-OFF! Leicester 0-1 Man City

Back underway in Leicester. Man City will be desperate to see this game out.

Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:32

Half-time thoughts from our man at the King Power, Richard Jolly

A lead for Manchester City, but they have had a few of those in recent weeks and still only won once in 13 attempts. It has felt fragile today, particularly when Facundo Buonanotte headed against the post. City could do with a second goal.

Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:21

HALF-TIME! Leicester 0-1 Man City

Some frustration for Man City in that first half, with Haaland missing a golden chance and other opportunities slipping by. But Leicester could have scored themselves as Buonanotte hit the post and they’ve exposed Pep Guardiola’s men on the break.

As it is, Savinho’s neat finish after Foden’s effort was saved, but not well enough, by Stolarczyk is the difference between the sides.

(Action Images via Reuters)
Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:17

Leicester 0-1 Man City, 43 mins

Soumare’s cross is blocked out of play for a corner. De Bruyne then slices his attempted clearance, so it’s another corner. Ake heads away well from righ on his goalkeeper’s toes.

Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:14

POST! Leicester 0-1 Man City, 39 mins

Time seemed to stand still but Leicester hit the post! A dinked cross is headed up in the air, then Justin’s header is blocked, it loops up in the air and after an age, Buonanotte can nod it goalwards from a standing position and it comes back off the left post!

Man City then attack and Foden’s cross to Haaland is nodded back across by the Norwegian but no one is there and it’s hacked clear.

(REUTERS)
Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:11

Leicester 0-1 Man City, 37 mins

Leicester looking dangerous again and Justin is through, with Ortega making himself big and saving well. The flag went up for offside anyway, though

Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:08

MISS! Leicester 0-1 Man City, 36 mins

Brilliant from Haaland until he wasn’t. He powers away from one defender then cuts back between two more with a little shimmy. He fashions the space to shoot but his left-footed effort from the middle of the box is narrowly wide of the right post.

He should score there, really. He’d done all the hard work but the finish eluded him.

Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:07

Leicester 0-1 Man City, 33 mins

That’s a stunning cross by El Khannouss who whips the ball on an angle through the six-yard box, between the defenders and goalkeeper in that corridor of uncertainty, but it somehow misses everyone and goes out for a goal-kick.

If one Leicester player could’ve lunged and got a touch on it, that was 1-1.

Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:04

WATCH: Man City take the lead at Leicester

Here’s how the visitors are ahead, with Savinho netting the rebound from Foden’s shot.

Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:03

Leicester 0-1 Man City, 30 mins

Man City appeal for a penalty as Vestergaard comes across and De Bruyne goes down. Replays show there’s no contact, that’s a dive from De Bruyne.

Referee Michael Oliver has no interest in giving a penalty anyway.

Luke Baker29 December 2024 15:01

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