'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester City battled past Leicester City 1-0 in a nerve-wracking encounter at the Etihad Stadium on Monday evening. The win helped the home side restore its lead at the top and they now sit a point ahead of Liverpool at 95 with just a game to go.
The hosts endured an edgy start to the game and were taken aback by the Foxes’ bravery. The visitors looked to hurt the Cityzens on the break at every possible opportunity.
However, after the initial shakiness, Pep Guardiola’s men dominated the ball and pushed and probed constantly for the opening goal.
Yet, the Cityzens had to wait until the 70th minute to get the goal they craved. Vincent Kompany puffed his chest and strode out from his half before striking a thunderous shot from 25 yards. The ball flew into the top right corner and left Kasper Schmeichel completely helpless.
The visitors went close after going behind but the likes of James Maddison and Kelechi Iheanacho were unable to trouble Ederson despite finding themselves in promising positions.
Thereafter, the hosts managed the game superbly and saw out the game comfortably.
Here is a look at the five talking points from the game:
#5. Manchester City hammer at Leicester’s door and eventually break it down
The hosts came into the game having won their previous 12 league games, scoring 27 and conceding 3 in the process. Thus, many expected them to dispatch Leicester’s challenge with ease. However, the Foxes didn't back down and made it as tough as possible for the home side.
The first half saw the Cityzens switch the play from side to side but they were rarely allowed to get in behind the defence by the visitors. Though City enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, they weren’t able to create any substantial openings with shots from distance seeming their only avenue towards goal.
However, in the second half, the home side turned the screw and amped up the pressure exponentially. After an hour, Guardiola boldly took off Phil Foden and replaced him with Leroy Sane, switching to a 4-1-4-1 system in the process.
The change paid dividends as City looked more of a threat with the German’s pace on the flanks. The fear of letting him run in behind created space for the other midfielders as Leicester dropped deeper and deeper.
The aforementioned freedom in the middle third eventually allowed Kompany to line up his shot and rifle home the winner.
Apart from the goal, the visitors defended pretty resolutely and made the home side work hard for their openings.
Yet, in the end, they were undone by City’s perseverance and a moment of magic by the Cityzens’ captain.
#4. A day of contrasting fortunes for Bernardo and David Silva
Pep Guardiola sprung a surprise with his Starting XI when he named Foden alongside David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan in midfield. The inclusion of the Englishman meant that his Spanish teammate was entrusted with the responsibility of carving out opportunities for City.
However, for a change, Silva wasn’t at the races and had a sub-standard outing at the Etihad.
The Spaniard gave the ball away at times while his attempted through balls were cut off easily on other occasions. Though the early booking curtailed his game a touch, he still looked jaded and uncharacteristically bereft of ideas.
Fortunately for City though, Bernardo Silva had another wonderful day at the office. Starting on the right flank, the Portuguese looked lively and tied Ben Chilwell in knots throughout the game.
Moreover, his expert positioning allowed Kyle Walker to bombard the right flank and create instances of numerical superiority in the wide areas.
Though the midfielder failed to notch up an assist or a goal, he was a constant thorn in the Foxes’ side with his mazy dribbling and propensity to track down every ball.
Over the course of the season, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling have garnered all the plaudits courtesy their goal-scoring exploits and rightly so.
Yet, one can’t help but wonder if City would’ve come so close to success without a certain Portuguese in their ranks. And on Monday, Bernardo showcased exactly why he is one of the first names on the team sheet these days.
#3. Ilkay Gundogan: Manchester City’s unsung hero
Before the start of the 2018-19 season, City were fervently searching for a defensive midfielder who could help ease the burden on Fernandinho and act as an able deputy for the Brazilian. However, they failed to bring anyone on board with Jorginho famously ditching the Sky Blues in favour of Chelsea.
Thus, many believed the Cityzens’ title challenge hinged upon Fernandinho’s ability to stay fit and start as many games as possible.
Yet, as the season has entered its home stretch, City has been able to rely on a German earlier considered to be too gung-ho as a defensive midfielder: Ilkay Gundogan.
The midfielder has been superb in the Brazilian’s absence and has provided City with the required impetus and tactical nous in midfield. Though Gundogan isn’t as effective defensively, he has more than offset his deficiencies by playing the deep-lying playmaker role to perfection.
Against Leicester, the German racked up 86 passes at an incredible accuracy rate of 90.7%. He also made 2 key passes through the course of the game and dictated the tempo.
For a major chunk of the season, many opined that an injury to Fernandinho would derail City’s title challenge. Yet, with Gundogan in the mix, the Cityzens haven’t batted an eyelid and they are now just a solitary win away from glory.
While the German might not be the poster boy of their potential title winning parade, he certainly has been one of the most vital components of this City side in 2019.
#2. Vincent Kompany – Captain. Leader. Legend.
Back in 2008, Manchester City signed Vincent Kompany from relative obscurity for a fee amounting to €8.5m. Since then, the Belgian has established himself as a colossus at the Etihad and has won three Premier League titles during his stint. And on Monday, he brought his side to the cusp of a fourth league triumph.
With over an hour played, City battled tooth and nail to break open the visitors’ defence and make the net bulge. However, every attempt of theirs was being thwarted by the Foxes’ rear-guard till Kompany decided to take matters in his own hands.
The defender conjured an unstoppable thunderbolt from 25 yards out and blasted the ball beyond Schmeichel. The ferocity of the shot, apart from nearly scything through the net, also broke thousands of Liverpool hearts.
In addition to the goal, the Belgian was on his defensive guard throughout and barely allowed Jamie Vardy a sniff at goal. Moreover, he marshalled his troops well and ensured they went past the finish line as push came to shove.
In his time at City, Kompany has endured his fair share of injuries. Yet, whenever he has been fit, he has left a lasting impression and he did so again with a net-bulger beyond his wildest dreams against Leicester.
And if that goal ultimately turns out to be the decisive tilting scale in this topsy-turvy title race, no one, let alone Liverpool, would be complaining.
After all, a title pursuit of such an order deserved a goal of such quality.
#1. Manchester City and Liverpool get ready for Round 38 of their bout
Before the season started, several had earmarked City as a seemingly invincible proposition to tackle with the Cityzens having left everyone in their wake last term. Thus, Guardiola’s men had an aura akin to the much fabled character of Ivan Drago.
Yet, like the Russian fighter, they faced their nemesis in the Rocky Balboa-esque Liverpool, a team and a manager not shying away from a fight and matching the other step for step.
Throughout their bout, the pair traded blows and quite significant ones at that. While City had seemingly lost their way in December and January, the Reds stumbled late in January and February.
However, those aberrations aside, these clubs have been unstoppable and there is only a point separating them with a game remaining.
Unfortunately for Liverpool and fortunately for City though, the latter holds all the aces as the 12th of May draws closer. A win for Guardiola’s charges would ensure a second consecutive league title, irrespective of what the Reds manage against Wolves.
Thus, the ball is firmly in the Cityzens’ court and ironically, only a slip by City would let Liverpool in.
The famous Rocky versus Drago bout did indeed end in the former’s favour with his dogged determination turning the tide.
Yet, one gets a sense that this fight between the seemingly invincible and the never say die optimist might just have a different outcome this time round.
