EPL: Man City brush aside Leicester to open 17-point lead

Manchester City opened a 17-point lead at the top of the English Premier League standings following a hard-fought 2-0 win over Leicester City that looked comfortable in the end at the King Power stadium on Saturday evening.

The Champions-elect scored twice in the second period through Benjamin Mendy and Gabriel Jesus for a record-extending 15 away victories in all competitions.

Pep Guardiola’s side thought they had the lead on six minutes through Fernandinho’s 25 yard drive but Aguero was in the sight of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and the goal was disallowed by the video assistant referee following a review.

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Leicester, playing on the counter, were not afforded any opening by the runaway league leaders who went closest through Kevin de Bruyne’s free kick that hit the bar.

Sergio Aguero also forced a save while Jesus lashed over.

Brendan Rodgers’ home side did not have a sniff and went into the break without a shot on target in the first half for the first time since December 2019.

Both teams returned with more attacking intent in the second period but it was City who took the lead on 59 minutes through unlikely scorer Benjamin Mendy.

The left back worked the ball onto his weaker right foot following a poor Leicester clearance before finding the bottom corner.

The Cityzens doubled their lead on 74 minutes through Jesus through move that started with an outwardly de Bruyne through ball. The Belgian playmaker threaded the eye of a needle to find Jesus, the ball evading two Leicester defenders before reaching the Brazilian striker who exchanged passes with Raheem Sterling before stabbing the ball into the net for his 80th Man City goal on his 24th birthday.

The win brings Man City to 74 points from 31 matches, 17 more than second place rival Manchester City, while Leicester stay third on 51 points, five ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea.

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