Manchester City secured a much-needed win in the Premier League, beating a lively Leicester City side at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
Savinho and Erling Haaland scored for Pep Guardiola's side but the Foxes caused City plenty of problems in a match that might have resulted in a different result had it not been for some wayward finishing touches from the home side.
With this result, City, who were looking to improve their career after only one win in 13 matches, advances to fifth place in the standings.
Meanwhile, Ruud van Nistelrooy's team remains in the bottom three.
We end the year with three points! 🌟
🦊 0-2 🩵 #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/OnFKUlUnZs
– Manchester City (@ManCity) December 29, 2024
How it unfolded
Guardiola's side started on the front foot. Kevin De Bruyne exploded before Jakub Stolarczyk made a fine save from Haaland's effort.
But once again City looked vulnerable in transition. From a Leicester counterattack, Stefan Ortega brought down the returning Jamie Vardy inside the box, but the offside flag had already been raised.
Vardy had the opportunity again when he pounced on Josko Gvardiol's header, but Ortega blocked it.
Moments later, the visitors opened the scoring when Savinho responded quickly to Stolarczyk's save to score his first league goal in a City shirt.
Leicester had plenty of possession after falling behind but failed to get a clear goal. Facundo Buonanotti was millimeters away from a cross from Bilal Al-Khannous.
Haaland was supposed to double City's lead in the 35th minute when he passed between two Leicester players but sent his shot wide of the goal.
At the start of the match, Bonanotti hit the post with a header, but City entered the first half with a goal for Al-Khair.
Savinho strikes and Man City advances! 💥 pic.twitter.com/k8pQmq3WkC
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
After the break, Leicester looked like the team was on the rise. Al-Khannous fired a shot just over the crossbar, while James Justin's shot from close range cleared the goal line.
The noise inside the King Power Stadium was growing. It could have been sparked had Vardy done better than Stevie Mavididi's cross on the hour mark.
But City survived and, against the run of play, extended their lead when Haaland headed home a save from Savinho inside the box.
“The smile is back!” 😁
Erling Haaland scores the second goal for Manchester City! pic.twitter.com/RgWPjiw0mO
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 29, 2024
The Norwegian's smile has been noticeably absent in recent weeks but here the smile is back: a smile that embodies the feeling of all City fans after the final whistle.
On the day Guardiola celebrated his 500th match for City, the prevailing feeling was one of relief.
