Manchester City came close to a third Premier League title ever in four seasons as a rare goal from a strike by Benjamin Mendy and Gabriel Jesus won 2–0 at third-placed Leicester on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s men now lead by 17 points at the top of the table, although Manchester United could cut that gap with two games in hand. However, it appears that when City regain English champion status after losing their crown to Liverpool last season, no.
City aim to outperform their domestic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup two years ago.
This would mean winning the Champions League for the first time and Guardiola showed that competition is a priority with Borisia Dortmund’s selection of their team ahead of Etihad’s visit for the first leg of the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
John Stones, João Canso, Ilkay Gundogan and Rahim Sterling were among the star names left on the bench after their exemption on international duty for the past 10 days.
Nevertheless, the visitors were still prominent against a Leicester side that had lost just twice in their last 16 Premier League games.
Sergio Aguero was given a rare start just days after announcing his illustrious 10-year stay in Argentina, which will kick off in Manchester at the end of the season.
However, his presence deprived City of an early opener when Fernandinho’s long-range strike only fell into the bottom corner for a goal as Aguero stood in an offside position in front of Caspar Shamechell.
Leicester are one of only three teams to defeat City this season, winning 5–2 at the Etihad in September.
Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick that day and felt he had added his best record against City in the first half stoppage time, when he scored to give Ederson a slot in an empty net, only to have him with the flag upside down. Deprived.
The city’s dominance of possession and patience was finally rewarded from an unexpected source just before the hour mark.
Riyad Mahrez held the palms of his former teammate Shamechell, but from the rebound the ball fell to Mendy’s feet at the back post, cutting off his weak right leg and scoring his second goal in four seasons as City .
Guardiola could then afford the luxury of presenting Stirling as Leicester were to inaugurate and chase down an equalizer.
And the England international gave the killer a second goal as he missed a brilliant pass from Kevin de Bruyne before going to Jesus to score on his 24th birthday.
Promoted
Thanks to Chelsea’s 5-2 setback for West Brom earlier on Saturday, Leicester still enjoy a five-point cushion above the Blues and finish fifth in the race for a top-four finish and Champions League football Seven points next season at the present West Ham.
But Brendan Rodgers’ men will be looking over their shoulders anxiously over the next few days as the Hammers, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton all have a chance to make it to the top four.
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