Manchester City secure 2-0 win over Leicester City at Etihad

Early goals from Jack Grealish and Omar Marmoush seal crucial victor.

Jack Grealish celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Leicester City at Etihad Stadium on April 2, 2025, in Manchester, England. Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Manchester City earned three crucial points with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City in a Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday early morning WIB. The Citizens dominated the match, scoring twice in the first half through Jack Grealish and Omar Marmoush. This result lifted Pep Guardiola’s team to fourth place in the standings with 51 points, overtaking Newcastle United by a single point.

Grealish strikes early for City

The home side wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Just two minutes into the game, Jack Grealish opened the scoring with a precise finish. The goal came from an excellent pull-back pass by Savinho on the right flank, setting up Grealish to slot the ball past Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

Leicester attempted to respond quickly, with Bilal El Khannouss trying his luck from distance in the 17th minute. However, his shot went well wide of the target, failing to trouble Ederson in the City goal.

Marmoush capitalizes on Leicester’s mistake

City doubled their lead in the 29th minute, courtesy of a defensive blunder from Leicester. Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen misjudged a contested ball with teammate Wout Faes, allowing the loose ball to fall perfectly for Omar Marmoush. The forward wasted no time, calmly slotting it into an empty net to give Manchester City a comfortable 2-0 lead.

The Citizens continued to push for a third goal before halftime. In the 36th minute, Savinho nearly got on the scoresheet with a well-struck effort, but this time Hermansen was able to make a strong save to deny the Brazilian winger.

City control the second half

After an intense first half, the second period saw a drop in tempo. Manchester City maintained control of possession but found it difficult to break down Leicester’s compact defensive shape. The Foxes, struggling near the relegation zone, focused on damage limitation rather than pushing for a comeback.

Omar Marmoush had another golden opportunity to score his second goal of the match when he connected with a Jeremy Doku cross, but his effort went over the bar. Despite continued pressure from City, Leicester’s defense managed to hold firm in the latter stages of the match.

City move up to fourth, Leicester’s struggles continue

With the final whistle confirming a 2-0 victory, Manchester City’s three points saw them climb to fourth place in the Premier League table with 51 points. The result pushed them one point ahead of Newcastle United, who secured a 2-1 win over Brentford on the same day.

Meanwhile, Leicester City’s troubles deepened as they remained in the relegation zone. Sitting in 19th place with just 17 points, their hopes of avoiding relegation to the Championship are becoming increasingly slim. The Foxes must find a way to turn their fortunes around in the remaining fixtures if they are to retain their top-flight status.

As Manchester City continue their push for a higher finish in the league, Pep Guardiola will be pleased with his team’s defensive solidity and clinical finishing. The focus now shifts to their upcoming fixtures as they aim to close the gap on the teams above them.