Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League after Kevin de Bruyne’s world-class free-kick broke down Leicester City’s stubborn resistance at the King Power Stadium.
Foxes’ manager Brendan Rodgers had clearly set up his team to do a containing job on the reigning champions and it had worked effectively until De Bruyne curled a magnificent strike into the top corner from 25 yards four minutes after half-time.
De Bruyne’s goal was reward for City’s dominance, even though they missed the killer touch of the absent Erling Haaland, who has been suffering from a fever and a foot injury.
Leicester almost broke out of their defensive shell when Youri Tielemans struck a volley from a corner that was turned on to the bar by Manchester City keeper Ederson but ultimately they did not have enough attacking intent or quality to test Pep Guardiola’s side.
Arsenal can return to the top of the table with victory against Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on Sunday but for now Manchester City are back in the position that has become such familiar territory in recent years.
Man City overcome Haaland loss
The goals of Haaland have been the big storyline surrounding Manchester City’s season so far but the brilliant Norwegian was missing here having suffered from illness and injury that forced his departure at half-time against former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek.
It was a chance to see how Manchester City compensated for his absence and in the first half, when Leicester City simply sat back and let the champions attack with the occasional counter-attacking threat of their own, the sheer physical presence and air of menace presented by Haaland would have been a welcome addition to their attacking efforts.
And yet, even without Haaland, Manchester City demonstrated why they were the Premier League’s biggest force years before his spectacular entry on to the scene by conjuring up a spectacular moment from another area to win this difficult fixture.
It was De Bruyne, a rich seam of match-winning brilliance over the years, who delivered with a right-foot free-kick from 25 yards that was simply unstoppable, glancing off the frame of the goal, tantalisingly out of the reach of Leicester keeper Danny Ward.
Manchester City then held firm, despite the main anxious moment of Tielemans hitting the bar, with the celebrations at the final whistle demonstrating their delight at overcoming a Leicester team who had been showing improved form.
Player of the match
De BruyneKevin De Bruyne
Leicester City
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Squad number10Player nameMaddisonAverage rating
6.27
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Squad number1Player nameWardAverage rating
6.18
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Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Average rating6.15
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Squad number7Player nameBarnes
Average rating6.10
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Squad number4Player nameSöyüncü
Average rating5.88
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Squad number3Player nameFaes
Average rating5.82
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Squad number27Player nameCastagne
Average rating5.78
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Squad number18Player nameAmartey
Average rating5.73
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Squad number2Player nameJustin
Average rating5.71
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Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-Hall
Average rating5.68
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Squad number20Player nameDaka
Average rating5.45
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Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
Average rating5.39
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Squad number24Player nameMendy
Average rating5.30
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Squad number9Player nameVardy
Average rating4.93
Manchester City
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Squad number17Player nameDe BruyneAverage rating
8.68
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Squad number19Player nameÁlvarezAverage rating
8.12
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Squad number7Player nameJoão CanceloAverage rating
7.38
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Squad number20Player nameBernardo SilvaAverage rating
7.29
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Squad number31Player nameEdersonAverage rating
7.28
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Squad number16Player nameRodriAverage rating
7.27
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Squad number5Player nameStonesAverage rating
7.26
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Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating
7.22
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Squad number8Player nameGündoganAverage rating
7.13
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Squad number25Player nameAkanjiAverage rating
6.95
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Squad number14Player nameLaporteAverage rating
6.94
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Squad number47Player nameFodenAverage rating
6.87
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Squad number3Player nameRúben DiasAverage rating
6.80
Line-ups
Leicester
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Ward
- 18Amartey
- 3Faes
- 4SöyüncüSubstituted forDakaat 72′minutes
- 27Castagne
- 22Dewsbury-HallSubstituted forMendyat 45′minutes
- 8Tielemans
- 2Justin
- 10Maddison
- 9VardySubstituted forIheanachoat 71′minutes
- 7Barnes
Substitutes
- 11Albrighton
- 14Iheanacho
- 17Pérez
- 20Daka
- 24Mendy
- 25Ndidi
- 26Praet
- 31Iversen
- 33Thomas
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Ederson
- 5Stones
- 25AkanjiSubstituted forRúben Diasat 72′minutes
- 14Laporte
- 7Cancelo
- 17De Bruyne
- 16Rodri
- 8Gündogan
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 19ÁlvarezSubstituted forFodenat 77′minutes
- 10Grealish
Substitutes
- 3Rúben Dias
- 6Aké
- 18Ortega
- 21Gómez
- 26Mahrez
- 33Carson
- 47Foden
- 82Lewis
- 97Wilson-Esbrand
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 32,223
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Leicester City 0, Manchester City 1.
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Second Half ends, Leicester City 0, Manchester City 1.
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Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Rúben Dias.
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Foul by Jack Grealish (Manchester City).
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Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jack Grealish (Manchester City).
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Timothy Castagne (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Daniel Amartey (Leicester City).
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Attempt saved. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Maddison.
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Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Patson Daka (Leicester City).
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Attempt missed. João Cancelo (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan following a corner.
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Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Timothy Castagne.
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Attempt saved. Patson Daka (Leicester City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.
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Attempt missed. Timothy Castagne (Leicester City) with an attempt from very close range is too high. Assisted by James Maddison with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City).
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Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. James Justin (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by James Maddison.
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Substitution, Manchester City. Phil Foden replaces Julián Álvarez.
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