All of City’s worries have not disappeared at the King Power Stadium: their defense has not always been reassuring, as in front of Jamie Vardy (19th, 68th) and Facundo Buonanotte (post in the 39th), and the infirmary remains full (Rodri, Rúben Dias, John Stones, Matheus Nunes and Oscar Bobb).
In the game, Pep Guardiola’s team finished the match with less possession than their modest opponent, an unusual statistic for the 2023 European champions. But they ensured the essential: winning, which they hardly knew how to do anything since a short success against Southampton (1-0) on October 26. Between this date and Sunday, the “Citizens” had only won one of their thirteen matches (nine defeats and three draws), in all competitions, an endless gap on their scale.
Savinho opens his counter
The decline had been spectacular in the Premier League, their preserve of the previous seven seasons (six titles), where they had taken only five points in the last nine games. They bounced back on Sunday, notably thanks to Savinho, scorer (21st, 1-0) then decisive passer for Erling Haaland (74th). The young Brazilian winger, who arrived in the off-season, scored his first goal in the sky blue jersey, taking advantage of a Phil Foden strike that was difficult to repel by Jakub Stolarczyk. Then he delivered a perfect cross for the head of Haaland, scoring for only the second time in December.
