On December 29th at 22:30 Beijing time, the 19th round of the 2024-25 Premier League season featured a highly anticipated match between Leicester City and Manchester City.
Manchester City, as the reigning champions, are currently facing challenges, with their participation in next season's European competitions in question. After drawing 1-1 at home against Everton, who are fighting relegation, they have only managed one win in their last 13 matches. In their last five games across all competitions, they have drawn twice and lost three times, without a victory, and in the Premier League, they have drawn twice and lost twice in their last four rounds.
Leicester City, newly promoted to the league, find themselves in the relegation zone. Under new manager Van Nistelrooy, they won their first match at home 3-1 against West Ham United, followed by a 2-2 draw at home against Brighton. However, they have suffered three consecutive defeats in their last three rounds, conceding at least three goals in each match, scoring only once away against Liverpool.
Before the match, Manchester City sat seventh in the Premier League table with 28 points from 18 matches (8 wins, 4 draws, 6 losses), trailing Liverpool, who had played one fewer match, by 14 points, and were six points behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest.
Leicester City, with 14 points from 18 matches (3 wins, 5 draws, 10 losses), were ranked 18th, one point behind Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are outside the relegation zone.
In this match, Manchester City lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Erling Haaland as the center forward, Savigno, Bernardo Silva (B席), Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden in midfield, Mateo Kovacic as the holding midfielder, and Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias, and Kyle Walker as the back four, with Ederson in goal. The total value of the starting eleven was 720 million euros.
Leicester City started in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jamie Vardy as the center forward, supported by Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, and Ayoze Perez in the attacking midfield, Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans as the double pivot in midfield, and Ricardo Pereira, Caglar Soyuncu, Jonny Evans, and Ben Chilwell in defense, with Kasper Schmeichel in goal. The total value of their starting eleven was 130 million euros.
After the kick-off, both teams attacked and defended against each other.
In the 5th minute, Kovacic made a cross, and De Bruyne took a long-range shot with his left foot, which went high. Then, from the left flank, Barnes took the ball inside and shot, but it went wide.
In the 7th minute, Lewis made a through pass, and De Bruyne made a wonderful pass from the bottom, with Haaland following up for a push shot, which was blocked by the goalkeeper.
In the 10th minute, during Leicester City's counterattack, Vardy broke into the penalty area and was brought down by Ederson, but the referee indicated that Vardy was offside first, so no penalty was awarded.
In the 19th minute, Cancelo made a header clearance error, and Vardy intercepted before shooting, but it was saved by the goalkeeper.
In the 21st minute, Lewis made a wonderful pass to Foden, who took a long-range shot, which was saved by the goalkeeper, and Savigno followed up to score! Manchester City took the lead 1-0 against Leicester City.
Summer signing and Brazilian winger Savigno finally scored after playing 24 games for Manchester City.
In the 28th minute, B席 made a cross, and Haaland headed the ball, but it was caught by the goalkeeper.
In the 35th minute, Haaland broke into the penalty area and shook off his marker before shooting, but it went wide.
In the 37th minute, Vardy made a wonderful pass, and Justin had a clear chance but his shot was saved by Ederson.
In the 74th minute, McTominay made a cross from the right, De Bruyne passed to Savigno again, who then crossed for Haaland to head the ball into the net. Manchester City secured the victory with a 2-0 lead over Leicester City.
After nearly six games in all competitions and five rounds in the Premier League without a win, Manchester City finally claimed a victory. With this match concluded, Manchester City accumulated 31 points from 19 matches, rising to fifth place in the Premier League table. They are now three points behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest after playing one more match, and 11 points behind league leaders Liverpool after playing two more matches. The title race in the Premier League still holds suspense!