LEICESTER CITY 0, MANCHESTER CITY 2
- Vincent Kompany survives red card call
- John Stones goes off with hamstring injury – will miss 4-6 weeks
- Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus score the goals as City avenge last season’s Premier League defeat
Manchester City lined up a club record seventh consecutive away win during a hugely impressive 16 wins in all competitions as they ran out 2-0 winners at Leicester City with goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus but could have lost captain Vincent Kompany to a red card while his defensive partner John Stone sustained a hamstring injury.
In complete contrast to last season’s 4-2 humbling at the King Power Stadium at the hands of the counter attacking Foxes it was a much more professional City performance despite another injury blow to a senior player.
Captain Vincent Kompany was drafted into the Manchester City team to replace the suspended Nicolas Otamendi but City boss Pep Guardiola had to suffer the loss of John Stones after just 31 minutes with a hamstring injury which will rule the England defender out for up to six weeks.
What was once an injury headache with central defenders because of Kompany’s injury issues is now a full blown injury crisis at centre half for City.
Without Stones City may have to survive the six weeks until the opening of the January transfer window relying on Otamendi and the unfancied Eliaquim Mangala, and perhaps unable to trust Kompany’s fitness week in week out during the busy holiday period.
Returning after the international break Guardiola opened to rest Sergio Aguero who had travelled back from Russia following a worrying dizzy spell during Argentina’s game against Nigeria.
Aguero was replaced by Gabriel Jesus who had an altogether shorter commute from London when his Brazil side played out a 0-0 draw against England at Wembley.
Kompany replaced Otamendi in the only other change from the side that beat Arsenal at the Etihad and City’s captain escaped an early bath when he slid across to foul Jamie Vardy, denying him an early goal scoring chance, while the rusty Belgian almost scored an own goal trying to clear a Riyad Mahrez chance.
The presence of John Stones alongside Kompany saved the City skipper from an ignominious exit and it was just as well as the England man barely lasted half an hour himself before going off with a hamstring injury.
David Silva had already gone close for City before he played an instrumental role in the opening goal, teeing up Jesus with a neat square ball after City had picked Leicester’s static defence apart with a passing masterclass.
Harry Maguire’s deflected shot hit the woodwork – the closest that Leicester would go in their quest to trouble Ederson’s goal but City merely went up the other end and doubled their lead through a 20 yard shot from Kevin De Bruyne after Leroy Sane’s cutback found him, inevitably, in plenty of space on the edge of the Foxes box.
Kasper Schmeichel prevented Jesus from making it 3-0 with a reaction save from close range after Kyle Walker’s cross had found the Brazilian lurking just six yards out as City cruised to yet another victory.