Dec 30, (V7N) -  Manchester City ended their dismal away form with a much-needed 2-0 win over Leicester City at King Power Stadium. Goals from Savinho and Erling Haaland secured the defending champions' second win in 14 games, lifting them to fifth in the Premier League. The victory brought relief for Pep Guardiola, who described it as a crucial mental boost for his side amid a challenging campaign.

The match saw City take the lead in the 21st minute through Savinho, who pounced on a rebound after Jakub Stolarczyk failed to parry Phil Foden’s long-range strike effectively. Despite dominating possession, City's performance still lacked the polish of their title-winning campaigns. Leicester, meanwhile, created several opportunities but failed to capitalize, with James Justin hitting the post and Jamie Vardy missing a golden chance to equalize.

Haaland ended his four-game goal drought in the 74th minute, heading home a pinpoint cross from Savinho to double City's lead. The Norwegian's emphatic celebration highlighted the significance of the goal in restoring confidence within the squad. Haaland acknowledged the emotional toll of recent struggles but expressed hope that the team could use the extended New Year break to recover and reset.

Leicester's struggles continued under Ruud van Nistelrooy, as the Foxes suffered their fourth consecutive defeat. Despite creating chances, their inability to finish proved costly, leaving them entrenched in the bottom three. Van Nistelrooy rued the missed opportunities, emphasizing that clinical finishing is what separates winners from the rest in the Premier League.

This win offers Manchester City a glimmer of hope in what has been a turbulent season. While still 14 points behind league leaders Liverpool, Guardiola’s men will look to build momentum and rekindle their title defense. For Leicester, the focus will now shift to shoring up their defense and finding solutions in attack to avoid a prolonged relegation battle.

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