Manchester City 3-1 Leicester City - Erling Haaland nets another double as Man City cruise past Foxes
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Updated 15/04/2023 at 21:43 GMT
It was another emphatic performance from Erling Haaland and Manchester City as Pep Guardiola's side swept past Leicester City 3-1 in very comfortable fashion in their Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. Haaland pounced for two more goals as he further bolstered his incredible tally for the season with City able to put yet more pressure on Arsenal in the title race.
Guardiola on Haaland's record and Man City's 'final' against Arsenal
Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal to three points with a convincing 3-1 win over Leicester in their Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Dean Smith got off to a nightmare start in the opening minutes of his Foxes reign when John Stones fired in from outside the box to get the scoring going.
Erling Haaland then converted a penalty after Wilfried Ndidi handballed it. The Norwegian then got another goal when he finished a Kevin De Bruyne through ball brilliantly by chipping the goalkeeper.
Pep Guardiola’s side took their foot off the gas considerably after the break and consequently lost their clean sheet when Kelechi Iheanacho tapped home from a corner.
City head to Bayern Munich and then play Sheffield United in their FA Cup semi-final before going up against Arsenal on April 26.
As for the Foxes, they sit two points from safety with clashes versus Wolves, Leeds and Everton to follow.
TALKING POINT – GAME OF TWO HALVES
Man City were incredible in the first half. Stones’ goal showed how they can hurt a team from anywhere with anyone and it ruined Smith’s plan to concede few chances and defend deep. De Bruyne and Haaland ran the show and looked to be in amazing form ahead of the all-important run-in.
Guardiola took off the likes of Haaland, De Bruyne and Rodri in the game and the difference without them was clear. City took their foot off the gas and were barely touching the accelerator after the break.
Their eyes were on bigger games to come with the job done this evening but Leicester so easily could have got back in the game and make the title-challengers more concerned if they took late chances. Guardiola sets high standards and he will not be happy with the second half but the result is huge.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – ERLING HAALAND
He may have only been on the pitch for 45 minutes but he got a brace, and it surely would have been a hat-trick is he stayed on the field. Haaland’s second goal was him perfectly summed up: a well-timed run, pace and power to get away from the defenders, followed up with an ice cool finish. The delicate dink over Daniel Iversen was exceptional. His 32nd of the season in the Premier League.
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Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their side's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Leicester City at Etihad Stadium on April 15, 2023
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Man City: Ederson 7, Walker 7, Dias 7, Stones 8, Laporte 6, Rodri 7, Silva 6, De Bruyne 8, Mahrez 7, Grealish 8, Haaland 9.
Subs: Akanji 5, Alvarez 5, Phillips 5, Palmer 5, Gomez 4.
Leicester: Iversen 6, Castagne 6, Soyuncu 5, Souttar 6, Faes 5, Kristiansen 4, Ndidi 3, Tielemans 5, Dewsbury-Hall 5, Maddison 7, Vardy 5.
Subs: Thomas 6, Iheanacho 7, Mendy 6, Praet 5, Daka 6.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
5’ – GOAL (STONES) – An incredible strike from an unlikely source. Stones smashes home from outside the box with his weaker foot. Leicester don't clear a corner properly, it bounces around before Rodri heads down to Stones and the centre-back controls it home from just outside the penalty area. Iversen stood no chance.
13' - GOAL (HAALAND) - Ndidi clumsily puts his arm up in an unnatural position and it is a clear penalty. Haaland converts from the spot. Iversen nearly gets there but it is good enough. City in control. Leicester look shocked and demoralised.
25' - GOAL (HAALAND) - Leicester dare to come forward and are punished by brilliance. De Bruyne pockets Ndidi, drives forward and then slides in Haaland. The striker times his run to perfection then chips it over the on-rushing keeper.
75' - GOAL (IHEANACHO) - Complacent City are punished. A corner is met by Souttar, his header saved by Ederson and Iheanacho taps home the rebound.
KEY STAT
Erling Haaland has equalled the Premier League record for goals in a 38-game season (32), with only Andrew Cole in 1993-94 (34) and Alan Shearer in 1994-95 (34) netting more in any season overall.
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