Manchester City returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over a struggling Leicester City side at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. Goals from Jack Grealish and Omar Marmoush in the first half secured three vital points for Pep Guardiola’s men, boosting their hopes of securing a top-four finish and Champions League qualification for next season.
The match kicked off at 7:45 PM BST, and City wasted no time asserting their dominance. Just 70 seconds into the game, Jeremy Doku intercepted the ball in Leicester’s half and fed Savinho, who delivered a pinpoint cross for Grealish to side-foot home from close range. The early strike marked Grealish’s first Premier League goal since December 2023, ending a 14-month drought in the competition and silencing doubters with a timely reminder of his quality.
Leicester, languishing in 19th place and staring relegation in the face, struggled to respond. Their woes deepened in the 29th minute when goalkeeper Mads Hermansen fumbled a routine catch from a Rúben Dias ball into the box. Marmoush, City’s January signing from Eintracht Frankfurt, pounced on the error, smashing the ball off the upright and into the net for his fifth goal of the campaign. The Egyptian forward has quickly become a fan favorite, stepping up admirably in the absence of the injured Erling Haaland.
Haaland, City’s talismanic striker, was ruled out for up to seven weeks after injuring his ankle in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Bournemouth. Guardiola confirmed the blow in his pre-match press conference, stating, “The doctors told me between five and seven weeks. Hopefully, he’ll be back for the end of the season and the Club World Cup.” With Haaland sidelined, alongside long-term absentees Rodri, Nathan Ake, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji, City’s squad depth was tested, but Marmoush and Grealish rose to the occasion.
The second half saw City maintain control, though the tempo dropped as they settled into a possession-heavy rhythm, finishing with over 70% of the ball. Leicester, under Ruud van Nistelrooy, offered little resistance, managing just one shot on target throughout the match. Their winless run without scoring stretched to seven games, leaving them one shy of the Premier League record and 12 points adrift of safety with only nine matches remaining.
Guardiola praised his side’s resilience despite the injury setbacks. “It’s not easy how Leicester defended today,” he said post-match. “They sat deep, but we found a way. Jack [Grealish] and Omar [Marmoush] were fantastic, and the team showed heart.” The Spaniard also welcomed the return of Oscar Bobb to the matchday squad for the first time since August, following the youngster’s recovery from a broken leg.