Manchester City and Leicester City played the final Premier League game of the calendar year at the King Power Stadium, ending in a stalemate that leaves the Foxes in 2nd place, equal on points with table-toppers Arsenal , while Manchester City are three points behind on 36.
Claudio Ranieri, hasn’t lived up to his ‘Tinkerman’ moniker this season, largely sticking with the same starting eleven. The Italian only made two changes to his side, with Gokhan Inler and Danny Drinkwater coming in for Andy King and Shinji Okazaki. Importantly for the Foxes, Jamie Vardy overcame the flu and was fit to start.
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Manuel Pellegrini also had great news for the travelling Manchester City faithful, as Sergio Aguero, who had only recently returned from injury was fit to start in place of Wilfried Bony. The Sky Blues were unchanged in all other positions, as Vincent Kompany’s absence continued.
First Half :
The inclusion of Inler, who was making his first start in 3 months for Leicester, revealed Ranieri’s line of thinking, as Leicester sat back quite deep as the game began. The two sides with a disparity of £271 million in starting eleven fees, were quite respectful of each other as they sized each other up in the initial stages, with nothing of note taking place.
Aguero had the first shot in anger, turning Kante but saw his shot blocked by Morgan. Minutes later, Robert Huth headed over the bar from a lovely free kick by Christian Fuchs, when he should have done better.
City had a couple of shots from de Bruyne and Sterling midway through the first half, but Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel was not unduly perturbed, comfortably swatting away their efforts. As the two sides traded blows, Mahrez got in on the act, bullying Kolarov, beating Mangala and firing narrowly over in one go.
Sterling had City’s best chance, brilliantly controlling a long ball on his chest and shooting at Schmeichel, who was equal to his effort.
The game came alive in the final five minutes of the first half, as Fuchs delivered an exceptional ball from the left wing into the corridor of uncertainty, but it was too far for Vardy and Albrighton skied over at the back post when he should have atleast got the ball on target.
Fernandinho nearly gifted Leicester the lead from the resulting goal kick, as he passed the ball to Vardy after being put under pressure. As the Premier League top scorer bore down on goal, Joe Hart charged the Foxes’ talisman, resulting in Vardy blazing his shot over the bar when a finish of more finesse was required.
Second Half :
City started the second half very well, as Aguero conspired to miss a gilt-edged chance from two yards, after Silva had released de Bruyne down the right wing to put in a delicious cross. As City threatened to overwhlem them, Leicester rallied well, as minutes later Kante shot from distance after an excellent layoff from Vardy.
Leicester began to gradually assert their hold over the game, as Mahrez created a presentable chance for Albrighton on the hour mark. The Algerian’s lovely reverse pass deserved more than Albrighton’s scuffed finish.
City had a strong shout for a penalty in 62nd minute, as Aguero was felled by Inler who appeared to have nicked the ball. However, replays showed that Inler had only made contact with Aguero, who didn’t help matters with a theatritical tumble to the floor. That was the last piece of action for the Argentinian, as Wilfried Bony came on to replace him.
Ranieri responded with a change of his own, hooking Inler for Leonardo Ulloa, thus swtiching to a more conventional and attacking 4-4-2. However, it took until the 75th minute for Leicester to create their next chance. Mangala’s rash challenge on Ulloa resulted in a free kick at the edge of the box, which Christian Fuchs shot powerfully at Joe Hart, who punched clear.
Sterling and Drinkwater went off in the final ten minutes, replaced by Iheanacho and King respectively. The game petered out without any clear cut chances, with only a few niggly free kicks being conceded. The King Power stadium erupted as the final whistle blew, as Leicester City nullified Manchester City to underline their title credentials.
