Gabriel Jesus spared the blushes of Sergio Aguero as he came off the bench to give Manchester City a 1-0 victory over third-placed Leicester.
Aguero added his name to the growing list of City players to miss from the penalty spot this season but it would not matter as Jesus replaced him and bagged the only goal with 10 minutes left.
It was far from a scintillating display from Pep Guardiola's men but they will take confidence from a solid performance away to a side one place below them in the table only days before their trip to face Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The only sore point was, once again, their inability to score from the spot.
Leicester had seen two spot-kick shouts turned down before City were awarded one on the hour, but their crisis of confidence from 12 yards out continued as Aguero went for power but saw Kasper Schmeichel get down to his right and save.
It was a fifth penalty failure in seven attempts, meaning City side have now missed as many as they have scored despite Guardiola trying Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan as well as Aguero.
Goal clip
Reaction
Opta stats
- Manchester City have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League for only the second time this season (also in October 2019).
- Manchester City have won six of their last seven league meetings with Leicester City (L1), as many as their previous 21 such clashes beforehand.
- Leicester City have lost three of their last five home league games (W1 D1); they had only lost one of their first 14 such matches under Brendan Rodgers before this.
- Brendan Rodgers has lost all three of his Premier League meetings with Manchester City as Leicester manager, as many such defeats as he suffered in eight games against the Citizens in charge of Swansea and Liverpool (W3 D2 L3).
- Gabriel Jesus has scored four goals in his five Premier League appearances against Leicester City; only versus Everton (seven) has he scored more in the competition.
- Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel's save for Sergio Aguero's penalty was his fourth Premier League penalty save - one more than his father Peter made in his entire Premier League career.
- Manchester City have failed to score from each of their last four Premier League penalties, with each being missed by a different player (Aguero, Gundogan, Jesus, Sterling).
- Manchester City attempted 18 shots in this match, the most Leicester have faced in a single league game at the King Power Stadium since Manchester United had 19 in December 2017.
INSIGHT: Man City's penalty woes
Manchester City's miserable form from the penalty spot continued as Sergio Aguero had one saved by Kasper Schmeichel in the Premier League win at Leicester.
It was City's fifth missed penalty in their last seven attempts in all competitions.
They did win a Community Shield shoot-out against Liverpool but here, the PA news agency looks at their mixed record since.
- Sergio Aguero (4 penalties, 3 goals)
City's record goalscorer has had his problems from the spot in the past - notably missing in last season's Champions League loss to Spurs - and he had a 100 per cent record this term, until Saturday. The Argentinian began the season with a spot-kick in the 5-0 win at West Ham on the opening day - albeit having been spared by VAR after an initial miss - and also netted against Watford in the Premier League and Atalanta in the Champions League. However, Schmeichel's save ended the run of successes.
- Ilkay Gundogan (3 penalties, 2 goals)
City turned to the German and with good results until he missed at Tottenham earlier this month. With Aguero not on the field, Gundogan scored against Leicester in December and Fulham in the FA Cup last week. He kept the job at Spurs even with Aguero on the field, but Hugo Lloris saved from the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
- Gabriel Jesus (2 penalties, 0 goals)
The Brazilian was the choice when City were awarded a penalty against Atalanta at the San Siro in November but his weak effort dribbled tamely wide. Things got no better when he missed a penalty for Brazil a week later. He had a chance to restore his confidence at Sheffield United last month but Dean Henderson saved.
- Raheem Sterling (1 penalty, 0 goals)
The England forward was the man who stepped up at Wolves in December but Rui Patricio, the man who thwarted him in pre-season, twice denied him - from a first attempt and from a retake. Sterling was alert enough to score from the rebound from the retake, but it still counts as a miss.
- Who next?
City manager Pep Guardiola may decide to keep faith with Aguero - with no obvious contender to replace him.
Riyad Mahrez's last penalty attempt was blazed well over the bar at Liverpool in October 2018 and even Kevin De Bruyne has suffered in the past, being denied by Everton's Maarten Stekelenburg in 2016.
Bernardo Silva could be an option but a left-field choice would be goalkeeper Ederson. Guardiola recently described the Brazilian as the best penalty-taker in the squad - practical reasons have prevented him being tried so far but they may eventually think it worth the risk.
AS IT HAPPENED: Live blog
FULL-TIME: Leicester 0-1 Manchester City
That's that. Thanks for joining us for coverage - report, reaction and stats to follow...
87': SILVA SHOOTS
Schmeichel's quick throw is intercepted, Gundogan reacts quick and Bernardo shoots from the edge of the box, slipping in the process and pulling it wide.
86': LATE LEICESTER GOAL?
They have 12 goals after the 80th minute - only City have scored more.
85': STAT TIME
81': GOAL! Leicester 0-1 Manchester City (Jesus)
Super sub Jesus! Quick impact as he latches onto Mahrez's through-ball in the box before dispatching past Schmeichel. A VAR check for offside but it rightfully stands.
80': TRADEMARK VARDY
Great positive play from Vardy to sprint clear down the left ahead of City's defence, but his cross is powerful and cannot be met.
77': CITY SUB
Aguero on, Jesus on. Can the Brazilian be their saviour?
This could be a great point for Leicester. Just under a quarter of an hour to go.
72': REPLAY: SCHMEICHEL SAVE
71': VARDY CLOSE!
Vardy's drought has gone on long enough - the former England forward nearly smashes a left-footed volley home but he slices it just wide of the goal. Entertaining clash now, this one.
63': SCHMEICHEL DENIES SERGE AGAIN
Relentless City attacks now as Mahrez rolls in Aguero, who instinctively shoots on the turn without looking up, but Schmeichel is there again. The former City shot-stopper having a belter against his former club.
62': SAVED!
Aguero steps up, gets good power behind it and Schmeichel pulls off a great save! The King Power celebrates like it's a goal and rightly so. It was hit down the middle and the Dane's trailing legs got to it.
61': PENALTY!
Man City have a corner, it is cleared to Gundogan on the edge of the box, whose shot deflects just past the post. That deflection came off the hand of Dennis Praet, with City players appealing a spot-kick.
VAR says...penalty!
57: WINNING TIP!
If you read our match previews, great. If you don't...why not?! We just had a 4/1 winner!
We tipped Leicester full-back Ricardo Pereira to have a shot on target and he has done just that. Result!
53': SCHMEICHEL SAVES!
De Bruyne gets the shot off from the edge of the box, gets it through the legs of Soyuncu but it did not affect Schmeichel, who got an excellent hand to it.
SECOND HALF...
...is back underway. Goals, please!
HALF-TIME PRICE BOOSTS
- Both teams to score - 9/4
- Fernandinho to be carded - 11/4
- Manchester City to win 2-0 - 6/1
- Jamie Vardy to score the 1st goal - 10/1
HALF-TIME: Leicester 0-0 Manchester City
The last chance of the half goes to former Fox Riyad Mahrez, who hits a free-kick wide of the target.
45+1: OFFSIDE!
De Bruyne threads it through to Aguero, who finishes wonderfully past Schmeichel to put it in off the post, but the flag was raised and rightly so.
38: Iheanacho heads over
Maddison lifts an excellent diagonal cross towards Iheanacho, who times his run brilliantly. He tries to get his head to it but takes the full force of the onrushing Ederson instead!
36: Leicester free-kick
The visitors are again caught in possession in their own half, with Soyuncu winning it back.
Maddison comes forward and is tripped 30 yards out on the left.
The former Norwich man lines this one up, gets it over the wall and Ederson has to quickly get across goal and tip out for a corner.
Corner comes to nothing.
33: Man City come again
Great defensive recovery from Soyuncu. His pass for Tielemans was too powerful, allowing Man City to steal possession in the Leicester half, but the centre-back sprints back to block De Bruyne's attempted cross.
28: Leicester free-kick
Maddison curls the free-kick from 20 out going for the top right corner.
It hits the wall and bounces tamely to Ederson. Leicester appeal for a handball in the wall. Quick VAR check and nothing given, but De Bruyne is lucky there wasn't more contact with his arm
26: Next team to score
The champions are on top and that is reflected in them being 2/5 with Sky Bet to get the first goal.
Leicester are 9/4 to score first and they have a free-kick 25 yards out...
24: De Bruyne close
Mahrez dances down the right wing and into the box and the Leicester defence are backing off him. He draws four men and then sqaures to De Bruyne on the edge of the box.
He is slightly off balance, which means he is not quite in the right position to get his foot round the ball and his snap shot from the D goes just wide of the right upright.
19: Man City getting going
Man City have stepped it up in the last few minutes and forced three corners.
The second of which Leicester struggle to clear and when the ball falls loose at the edge of the box Mendy's shot is deflected over. Leicester again fail to deal cleanly with the resulting corner, but do eventually get it to safety.
16: Gundogan chance
Man City spark into life and quick passing rip apart the Leicester defence, a one touch pass from Aguero, on the spin, puts Gundogan in on the right side, just in the box. But he scuffs his shot down low and Schmeichel, expecting something better, manages to readjust and block with his foot.
14: Leicester more positive
A criticism of Brendan Rodgers this season is that he has been too respectful of the 'bigger' teams, fielding negative tactics against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City and even the fallen from grace 'big six'.
He seems to have finally learnt, as Leicester are much more positive in this contest and without the ball are sitting higher up the pitch and pressuring their opponents.
It is working, as highlighted by Ederson having no close options from a backpass and he fires an aimless ball out of play under no pressure.
09: Schmeichel save
At the other end, Mahrez picked the ball up from 20 out against his former club and fires a strong shot into the bottom left corner. Schmeichel is down quickly to palm the goal bound effort away and out of the area.
Good start to this game
08: Vardy hits post
Oh, how has he missed that? Vardy has hit the post when everyone expected him to score.
Man City are against caught in possession and Tielemens slips in the former England striker through one-on-one with Ederson. This is where he is most deadly, but his dry run has clearly affected him and although he beats the keeper the ball hits in the inside of the post and bounces away to safety.
How much will Leicester rue that missed chance later?
04: Iheanacho almost in
Lovely triangles from Leicester on the right wing puts Maddison in space on the edge of the box. A clever slip pass puts Iheanacho in against his former club, but his first touch is heavy in the box and it runs out of play.
02: Early Vardy sniff
Man City are sloppy in central midfield and Leicester steal the ball and quickly fire it down field to get Vardy away. The ball is just behind the striker and it allows Fernandinho to flick it away from him, just as Vardy thought he was in on the edge of the box.
00: Kick-off
Leicester in the traditional home kit of blue and white. Manchester City in that fetching bright yellow and pink thing.
1728: Teams out
As the teams walk out at the Kingpower Stadium, a reminder of the line-ups.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs, Chilwell, Praet, Tielemens, Maddison, Iheanacho, Vardy. Subs: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Albrighton, Barnes, Perez, James.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Mendy, Rodri, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Mahrez, B Silva, Aguero. Subs: Bravo, Stones, Jesus, D Silva, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden
1720: Pre-match tip
We've tipped up.... Ricardo Pereira 1+ shots on target at 4/1
The preference in the betting here is to look at the shots market. As much as the visitors may dominate possession, Leicester should still get some opportunities and the eye-catching price is on Ricardo Perreira.
The Portuguese right-back likes to get forward at every opportunity, scoring three goals for the Foxes in the Premier League this term.
He has had an impressive seven shots in his last four appearances - four of them coming in one home game against West Ham - and with the positions he gets in and late runs he makes at the far post, 4/1 for him to register one effort on target looks too good to turn down.
1715: OPTA STATS
- Man City have lost two of their last three away Premier League games against Leicester (W1) having lost none of their previous five away games there in the Premier League (W3 D2).
- Leicester have drawn back-to-back Premier League games, having drawn just one of their previous 22 in the competition (W15 L6).
- In Brendan Rodgers’ first 14 home league games in charge of Leicester, the Foxes conceded just seven goals and never more than once in a match. In their last four at the King Power Stadium, they’ve shipped nine goals, and more than once on three occasions.
- Manchester City have lost four of their 13 away Premier League games this season (W8 D1), as many as they had on the road in their previous two campaigns combined (W30 D4 L4). The Citizens haven’t failed to score in consecutive away league games since January 2017.
- Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers has never beaten Man City manager Pep Guardiola in any of his previous four meetings (D2 L2) – he’s only faced José Mourinho more often without winning in his managerial career (six games).
- This is Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers’ 300th top-flight match as a manager (197 Premier League, 103 Scottish Premiership) – Rodgers has never lost a home Premier League game against Manchester City (W3 D1).
- Leicester’s Jamie Vardy hasn’t scored in any of his last six Premier League games – he’d only failed to score in six of his first 18 appearances in the competition this season.
1711: MATCH PREVIEW
The evening game sees third host second and hopefully it proves to be a cracker.
Leicester have set up more conservatively against the Premier League big boys, showing them respect and sacrificing the style of football that has seen them play so well this term.
Man City returned from the mid-season break with a routine victory over West Ham, but they will have to be on their game at a rocking King Power.
The preference in the betting here is to look at the shots market. As much as the visitors may dominate possession, Leicester should still get some opportunities and the eye-catching price is on Ricardo Perreira.
The Portuguese right-back likes to get forward at every opportunity, scoring three goals for the Foxes in the Premier League this term.
He has had an impressive seven shots in his last four appearances - four of them coming in one home game against West Ham - and with the positions he gets in and late runs he makes at the far post, 4/1 for him to register one effort on target looks too good to turn down.
Score prediction: Leicester 1-2 Manchester City (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
1707: TEAM NEWS
Three changes for both sides as Fuchs, Praet and former City man Iheanacho come in for the hosts, while Guardiola recalls former Fox Mahrez, Fernandinho and Gundogan.
1700: GOOD EVENING!
Hello! Welcome to our live coverage of Saturday evening's Premier League clash, as Leicester welcome Man City.
It is third versus second - hopefully a thriller for us!
We will be keeping you across the action with live updates, stats, the odd in-play tip and much more.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the action. We will bring you the build-up, but first, today's results followed by team news...
Premier League results
- Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham (Giroud, Alonso; Rudiger OG)
- Burnley 3-0 Bournemouth (Vydra, Rodriguez, McNeil)
- Crystal Palace 1-0 Newcastle (Van Aanholt)
- Sheffield United 1-1 Brighton (Stevens; Maupay)
- Southampton 2-0 Aston Villa (Long, Armstrong)
Odds via Sky Bet and correct at time of publication on 22/02/20
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