Manchester City flexed their muscles in a commanding 2-0 win over Leicester City at the Etihad. The recent loss of Haaland to injury did not hamper their ability to win with Marmoush taking up the slack. It was a game defined by total control, where Leicester failed to register a single shot on target and offered next to nothing going forward

Stats Breakdown

Shots: Man City 16, Leicester 1

xG: Man City 2.34, Leicester 0.02

Touches in Opponent Box: Man City 45, Leicester 1

Progressive Runs: Man City 32, Leicester 3

Dribbles: Man City 41, Leicester 8

Possession: Man City 73%, Leicester 27%

Match Momentum & xG Breakdown

The xG story paints a picture of complete domination. City’s expected goals finished at 2.34, while Leicester mustered just 0.02 from one speculative effort. The cumulative xG chart shows City building consistent attacking pressure from minute one, with early goals from Grealish and Marmoush sealing the result before halftime.

Leicester’s xG curve was flatlined-literally. Their only shot, a wild long-range effort, barely counted.

Shot Maps Tell the Tale

City’s shot map was clustered with attempts inside the box, including two goals from close range. The red zones on Leicester’s defensive shot-to-goal map glowed with danger all match, especially in the six-yard box.

Leicester’s attacking maps? A ghost town. One off-target shot from distance, no shots on target, and zero threat in any shooting zone.

Possession & Passing Style

City held 73% possession, completing 72 phases of play with an average possession duration of 36 seconds. Their pass map shows a dense web of combinations through the center and flanks, especially involving Gündo?an, Grealish, and Gvardiol. This was vintage City—playing between the lines, recycling possession, and waiting for the gaps to open.

Leicester tried to build from the back but lacked midfield connection and struggled to break City’s press. Vardy was isolated, while Kristiansen and El Khannouss couldn’t push high enough to relieve pressure. Leicester’s pass map shows a team boxed into their own third, passing sideways and backward more than forward.

In the End…

Leicester were passengers from start to finish. City moved through the gears with ease, maintaining tempo and territorial control. The result could have been more emphatic, but as far as routine wins go, this was textbook. The reigning champions march on, while Leicester head home with bruised pride and no shots on target to show for it.