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City edge closer to title with win over Foxes


City moved to within 11 points of a third Premier League title in four years with a flawless 2-0 win over high-flying Leicester.

Dominating from start to finish, Pep Guardiola's side are now 17 points clear of second-place Manchester United with goals from Benjamin Mendy and Gabriel Jesus the reward for a commanding display at the King Power Stadium.

Four more wins from our remaining seven games and City will not be able to be caught.

What happened?

Leicester set up to play as the away side, sitting deep and absorbing pressure in a bid to try and catch City on the counter-attack.

It's always a risky tactic to allow City great chunks of possession and Fernandinho almost made the hosts pay with just five minutes played as he drilled a 25-yarder into the bottom left corner, only for Sergio Aguero to be penalised for running across Kasper Schmeichel's eye-line from an offside position.

Kevin De Bruyne then struck the crossbar from a free-kick on 23 minutes with Schmeichel again well beaten.

De Bruyne, Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus would go close again before the break, with the hosts offering nothing in attack until Jamie Vardy had an effort chalked off for offside with the last kick of a one-sided first-half.

The second-half took up where the first left off - City bossing possession, Leicester sitting back - until the 59th-minute when, finally, City broke through.

Mahrez saw a shot beaten out by Schmeichel and as a cross came back in from the right, the ball eventually fell to Mendy who shaped to shoot, cut inside Marc Albrighton's challenge and stroked a curling shot into the bottom right corner for a goal that gave the keeper no chance.

15 minutes later, City wrapped up victory with a move that showcased the sublime passing of De Bruyne who sliced the Foxes apart as he sent Jesus clear - the Brazilian squared the ball to sub Raheem Sterling who feigned a shot, checked back inside and then returned the pass to Jesus to prod home from six yards.

There was no further scoring as City played out the minutes that remained with little fuss.

Make no mistake, the 5-2 home loss to Leicester last September hurt City's pride.

Losing any home game is painful, but to ship five goals and concede three penalties added up to a very bad day at the office for Pep's men.

The way City have responded since has been remarkable - but there was unfinished business with the Foxes.

This evening's victory against the third best side in England at present was yet another statement from a team who are powering their way to a third title in four years - though there is still work to be done.

It was superb stuff from City.

What it means...

City are 17 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

What's next?

City take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-final, first leg at the Etihad on Tuesday.

Then, it's Leeds United who visit the Etihad next Saturday with the Premier League clash kicking-off at 12.30pm.

MATCH DETAILS:

Leicester (0): Schmeichel; Amartey, Fofana, Evans, Castagne, Albrighton (Ricardo, 71’); Ndidi (Mendy, 83’), Tielemans; Ayoze Pérez, Iheanacho (Maddison, 71’), Vardy


Manchester City (2): Ederson; Walker, Rúben Dias, Laporte, Mendy; Rodri, Fernandinho; Mahrez (Ferran Torres, 78’), De Bruyne (Foden, 88’), Gabriel Jesus; Agüero (Sterling, 62’)

Goals: 0-1, Mendy (58’), 0-2, Gabriel Jesus (74’)

Referee: Anthony Taylor. Bookings: Ndidi (31’), Ederson (73’), Fernandinho (81’), Amartey (87’), Rodri (89’)



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