Kevin de Bruyne scored a surprising free-kick as Manchester Metropolis continued their nice kind as they beat Leicester Metropolis on the King Energy Stadium. The Belgian struck 4 minutes into the second half to win the factors for the blues, which additionally silenced claims that Metropolis wouldn’t be capable of win matches with out prime scorer Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian was sidelined with a foot damage that compelled him from the pitch throughout Wednesday’s Champions League conflict with Borussia Dortmund, with rumours that he might miss two matches till he recovers.

With 17 Premier League targets and 22 general, some had questioned whether or not the blues would be capable of rating with out Haaland’s on-field presence, even if Metropolis had received the final season’s competitors with no recognised striker all season.

Julian Alvarez stepped into Haaland’s footwear as Metropolis dominated the Foxes from the beginning, pinning the house aspect in their very own half of the pitch for many of the first 45 minutes. People who had advised Metropolis couldn’t do it with out Haaland have been little doubt salivating because the groups went in goalless at half-time, The blues have been banging on the door all through, limiting Leicester to minor breaks that precipitated no concern.

By comparability, the house aspect have been working laborious to comprise the blues as they adopted supervisor Brendan Rodgers’ recreation plan to frustrate Metropolis as a lot as potential. Leicester barely left their half, whereas the scourge of Manchester Metropolis in recent times, Jamie Vardy, was hardly current.

Metropolis had some glorious probabilities within the first half however discovered keeper Danny Ward in nice kind, denying Alvarez, Silva and Rodri, whereas on the different finish, Ederson stored out an effort from Harvey Barnes.

But it surely was Metropolis’s talisman from midfield who would in the end show to be the match winner. Jack Grealish was introduced down properly outdoors the penalty space and the Belgian noticed his probability and curled a surprising free-kick over the wall and out of the attain of Ward, earlier than clipping the within of the put up and in.

It was not more than Metropolis deserved, and in equity, they need to have taken the lead moments earlier when Rodri’s shot whistled simply broad of the upright.

Youri Tielemans wakened the house crowd when his volley from simply outdoors the D was tipped onto the bar by Ederson, earlier than the Metropolis defence shepherded the ball again to the grateful Brazilian. Leicester mad two substitutions within the 72nd minute and that appeared to spark one thing inside the aspect. Ederson was referred to as into motion once more to disclaim former blue Kelechi Iheanacho, and later scrambled throughout his purpose as a comical second noticed John Stones’ header hit Ruben Dias and went broad.

Metropolis held on for a treasured three factors as boos rang out from the house crowd, both as a result of the referee blew for full-time whereas Leicester have been on the assault or, extra seemingly, for parking the bus and permitting Metropolis to swarm throughout them.

Regardless of the causes, the travelling devoted did not care as they watched their crew deliver house the factors.

Ultimate Rating: Leicester Metropolis 0-1 Manchester Metropolis