In a hotly-contested battle at the King Power Stadium between second and third place in the Premier League, Manchester City emerged with a tight 1-0 victory.
Manchester City went seven points clear into second place with an away win over Leicester in the final league game before the all-important Champions League Round of 16 battle against Real Madrid in midweek. After having most of the game’s better chances, including yet another missed penalty, substitute Gabriel Jesus proved the difference as City emerged with a key victory over their primary rival for second position.
Defense
Ederson (GK): Could have given away a penalty for a dangerous challenge on former City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, but was exonerated by VAR and maintained his second straight clean sheet with some good saves. (6)
Kyle Walker (RB): Matched the pace of Leicester’s counter-attack well, keeping top scorer Jamie Vardy in check for most of the game. (7)
Fernandinho (CB): Struggled to keep up with Vardy, but made some well-timed challenges that really display his growth as a defender. (6.5)
Aymeric Laporte (CB): Defended brilliantly, organizing at the back keeping a clean sheet before being substituted in the 57th minute, hopefully as a precaution. City will need a full 90 minutes of a fully fit Laporte to have any chance at the Santiago Bernabéu. (7.5)
Benjamin Mendy (LB): Got forward routinely and looked back into good form, although he didn’t produce much end product. (6.5)
Midfield
Rodri (CDM): Won the midfield battle for City against James Maddison and Youri Tielemans, although a duel with counterpart Wilfried Ndidi would have been tasty as he prepares to face the likes of Casemiro, Luka Modrić, and Toni Kroos. (7)
İlkay Gündoğan (CAM): Turned an excellent opportunity early into a tame shot on Schmeichel’s goal, but he was routinely involved as his strike won City the penalty. (6.5)
Kevin de Bruyne (CAM): Created so much for his teammates and put Schmeichel’s goal under immense and imminent pressure with his absolute class. (8)
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Attack
Riyad Mahrez (RW): Cut open his former side’s defense with some excellent dribbles, culminating with a perfect assist for Gabriel Jesus’ opener. (8)
Sergio Agüero (ST): Had several opportunities, but Kasper Schmeichel and another missed penalty will haunt the Argentine striker before being taken off for his eternal foil, Gabriel Jesus. (5.5)
Bernardo Silva (LW): Was all over the pitch and factored into multiple facets of the game for City today. Even if he doesn’t always have the end product, he is a class player who rarely disappears. (7)
Substitutes
Nicolás Otamendi (CB): Came in for Laporte and kept it steady and tight for the back as City closed out the final 30 minutes. (6.5)
Gabriel Jesus (ST): Instant impact. After Agüero failed to put away his chances, Jesus immediately got on the end of a great Mahrez pass to slot past Schmeichel and break Leicester’s resistance in a Man of the Match effort. (8.5)