Jamie Vardy and Leicester hit Pep Guardiola 5 times

 

If any team could challenge the might of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the Premier League this season then it would be none other than Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Since football returned to Europe after the break from COVID-19 Pandemic, City displayed their killer instincts and hinted that they would mean business in the next season.

But today, in the clash against Leicester City, they were done and dusted. The Foxes hit Pep five times. Pep has never lost a match by such a margin and in home matches such things were always unthinkable. But this is 2020 and always be ready for the unthinkable to happen.

The start of City was bright and when Riyad Maharez struck in the opening minutes, it seemed that they would steamroll the Foxes.

Everything was going according to the script until the 36th-minute.

Kyle Walker put hands on Jamie Vardy in the area, and referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot.

Barnes went on a good run and played the ball through to Vardy. Walker, who was on the wrong side, put hands on him and Vardy went down.

Vardy equalized from the penalty spot.

The equalizer boosted the morale of the Foxes.

Pep decided bring a change in the second half.

Liam Delap replaced Fernandinho, which changed the shape to 4-1-2-3: Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne in the midfield, Raheem Sterling on the left, Mahrez on the right and Delap up front.

But actually City started playing in a 4-4-2 shape with De Bruyne alongside Rodri in the midfield and Sterling partnering Delap up front. Pep Guardiola in 4-4-2.

It actually toned down the tempo.

 A few minutes later,  Tielemans played a fine ball down the line to Castagne, who crossed low towards the near post. Vardy got in front of Garcia before flicking the ball behind his standing leg and past Ederson. The best part is that he stunned the ball into the ground so that it bounced over the crouching Ederson – it was an outrageous finish!

A minute later, Leicester almost bagged the third - Praet teed up Barnes, whose cracking long-range shot is pushed behind by the sprawling Ederson.

But the third goal was around the corner – Garcia fouled Vardy and conceded a penalty. Vardy made no mistake in netting the third and bag the hat-trick – second hat-trick against a Pep Guardiola team.

Vardy has scored nine times against Pep Guardiola’s City. Nobody else has scored more than five.

20 minutes later, James Maddison received the ball in space on the left wing, cut inside and hit a magnificent, booming curler that beat the flying Ederson and nestled in the far corner.

Ake reduced the deficit, but Mendy conceded another penalty, which Tielemans shot from the spot to complete the humiliation.

For the opening 30 minutes City dominated the proceedings, but as soon as Vardy equalized, Leicester simply tore the home team apart ruthlessly. The defence of City was crushed and left clueless whereas the back like of Leicester hardly allowed the midfield of City to advance and limited them to long-range shots.  

The 2020-21 season is getting exciting.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 27/09/2020 Jamie Vardy and Leicester hit Pep Guardiola 5 times

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Faisal Caesar