Guests declare much-needed win on Guardiola’s five hundredth recreation in cost

Manchester Metropolis picked up a much-needed Premier League victory as they overcame a spirited Leicester facet on the King Energy Stadium on Sunday.

Savinho and Erling Haaland grabbed the objectives for Pep Guardiola’s crew however the Foxes triggered Metropolis loads of issues in a recreation that will effectively have had a unique final result had been it not for some wayward ending from the hosts.

The end result strikes Metropolis, who had been seeking to enhance on a run of only one win from 13 video games, as much as fifth within the desk.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s facet, in the meantime, stay within the backside three.

Rounding off the yr with all three factors! 🌟

🦊 0-2 🩵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/OnFKUlUnZs

— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) December 29, 2024

The way it unfolded

Guardiola’s facet began on the entrance foot. Kevin De Bruyne blasted over earlier than Jakub Stolarczyk saved effectively from a Haaland effort.

However as soon as once more Metropolis seemed weak on the transition. From a Leicester counter, the returning Jamie Vardy was bundled over by Stefan Ortega within the field, however the offside flag had already been raised.

Vardy once more had an opportunity when he pounced on Josko Gvardiol’s free header again however Ortega was equal to it.

Moments later, the guests broke the impasse when Savinho reacted quickest to Stolarczyk’s parry to seize his first league aim in a Metropolis shirt.

Leicester noticed loads of the ball after going behind however didn’t carve out something clear minimize. Facundo Buonanotte was millimetres from connecting with a teasing cross from Bilal El Khannouss.

Haaland ought to have doubled Metropolis’s lead on 35-minutes when he wriggled between two Leicester gamers however despatched his shot extensive of the mark.

With the sport starting to open up, Buonanotte then hit the put up from a header, nevertheless, Metropolis went into half-time a aim to the nice.

Savinho pounces and Man Metropolis lead! 💥 pic.twitter.com/k8pQmq3WkC

— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024

After the break, Leicester seemed just like the crew in ascendancy. El Khannouss curled a shot narrowly over the bar, whereas James Justin’s close-range effort was cleared off the road.

The noise contained in the King Energy Stadium was rising. And it will have seemingly erupted had Vardy performed higher with Stephy Mavididi’s pin-point cross simply after the hour mark.

However Metropolis survived and, very a lot towards the run of play, prolonged their lead when Haaland headed house from Savinho’s ball into the field.

“The smile is again!” 😁

Erling Haaland makes it 2-0 to Manchester Metropolis! pic.twitter.com/RgWPjiw0mO

— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024

The Norwegian’s smile has been notably absent in latest weeks however right here the grin was again: one which encapsulated the sensation of all Metropolis followers on the closing whistle.

On a day when Guardiola celebrated his five hundredth recreation in command of Metropolis, the overriding feeling was one among reduction.