PEP KEEPS FAIT
REAL MADRID will have watched this terrific game in readiness for the Champions League classic to come in Spain on Wednesday.
Top of the page in their spy’s notebook, in big letters, will be the name “KASPER SCHMEICHEL”.
Schmeichel saved a Sergio Aguero penalty and added a succession of top-quality stops that mark him out as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
When Madrid are next looking for a keeper, they will know where to come.
For now, though, they will have a little chapter on City’s Riyad Mahrez.
The former Foxes star was quiet for a lot of the time – until his powerful run in the 80th minute that attracted five Leicester players around him before a clever pass set up substitute Gabriel Jesus to strike home the winner.
Jesus had been on the field for just three minutes, but showed no signs of rust as he met
Mahrez’s ball to fire inside
Schmeichel’s left-hand post.
The Brazilian said:
“Always when I go on, I try to help my team-mates and find space. Riyad has a lot of quality and I thought, ‘Go!’ because I know he has the quality to give me the ball.
“He gave a very good ball and I can score.”
Jesus had replaced Aguero, who is the latest City player to fluff his lines from the spot – it is now four missed penalties – but boss Pep Guardiola reckons it will be fifth time lucky.
He said: “We have missed four penalties in a row, but maybe we will score a penalty when we need it to win something.
“The keepers are good too, but the next one we are going to score.”
The win cut the gap at the top to 19 points, but the Champions League is City’s priority now and Guardiola says his side are ready for their trip to Madrid.
“The preparation after 12 days off was good, we have played two good games, and it’s good to prepare for Madrid with these good opponents. We are playing the kings of the competition, we will see, we will try to enjoy it and do our game,” he said.
This little epic decided who is the best of the rest in England behind champions-elect Liverpool.
Guardiola (left) knows the title has gone and wanted to find some rhythm in this game ready for Wednesday and, gradually, he got it.
It could have been different, though. Jamie Vardy might be short of goals lately, but he loves scoring against Manchester City and even his manager Brendan Rodgers believed the forward’s lean run was over within eight minutes.
Vardy has put five goals past City in seven league games – and this looked to be No.6.
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Ilkay Gundoga minutes later – a from 10 yards – b stopped him.
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