Manuel Pellegrini was dealt a blow in his pursuit of all three points from the King Power Stadium as he learnt of the Foxes’ resilience the hard way round on Tuesday. Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw by high-flying foxes who managed to end the year on a high.
The game on the night was nothing like the scoreline suggests as there were plenty of chances for both sides. An eventful first half saw both teams miss glorious chances to go ahead. Jamie Vardy who yet again troubled the back line of City was one on one with Joe Hart but blazed his shot wide un-characteristically.
But City created loads of chances in the first half. Kevin de Bruyne’s attempted left-foot shot off Raheem Sterling’s pull back needed an excellent Schmeichel to pary it away. The Dane was in excellent form as he pulled out two more saves against Aguero and Otamendi to take the home team to the break at level terms.
Leicester City started the second half in bright fashion but could not create much before City settled down. Riyad Mahrez came closest to breaking the deadlock when his left-foot curler just went past Hart’s crossbar. Schmeichel was yet again called into action as Raheem Sterling pulled out a volley that headed towards the bottom corner before punching another long-range effort from the same player.
Even as the goalkeeper was in fine form to deny the visitors, the hosts had their chances at the other end in the dying minutes of the game. Marc Albrighton turned a cross into the side-netting with Joe Hart nowhere in the picture while Jamie Vardy who latched onto a ball from Kante blazed over from a difficult position.
Neither club were able to show the quality that is expected out of a top of the table clash but this fixture provided plenty of talking points. Manchester City who are still tipped off as the favorites to take away the league showed that they are still a work in progress and the manager should try and turn things around in the New Year.
They are just 3 points off the top of the table and will surely try and reach the top of the table as quickly into the New Year as possible. Claudio Ranieri, on the other hand, will be ecstatic with the result especially after losing out to Liverpool in the last game.
They have now not scored in two consecutive Premier League games but the quality of the opponents in both matches will give the squad plenty of confidence. They are still keeping it simple on the field and are looking like a team that can easily stay in the top half of the table.
Talks about a slide down the table will surely be erased with this result and the Foxes will be hoping to get maximum points in the next few fixtures that are relatively easy. They are at the top of the table level on point with Arsenal and it will not be beyond Ranieri to take the team to Europe next season.
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