Leicester City and Manchester City played out a goalless draw in their Premier League clash at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Both teams had chances during what was an open contest, but the points were shared in the top-of-the-table clash.
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Illness had threatened to keep this season's Premier League's leading scorer Jamie Vardy on the sidelines for this match, but the England international was named in the home side's starting XI and as expected, the Foxes attempted to utilise his pace in the early moments against Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala.
Leicester had the game's first half-chance in the 16th minute when Robert Huth looked to send a header into the top corner after meeting a clipped free kick from Christian Fuchs, but his effort was always over Joe Hart's crossbar, before Kasper Schmeichel denied Kevin De Bruyne with a smart stop down the other end.
Riyad Mahrez was next to come close in the 25th minute, but his long-range strike fizzed past the post, before Schmeichel was once again forced into action to deny Sterling moments later as the two players went head to head in the first period.
Marc Albrighton and Vardy both missed good chances for the home team in the latter stages of the opening 45 minutes, but Man City were the superior outfit as the two sides headed down the tunnel at the interval of the top-of-the-table clash.
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It took less than one minute for Man City to carve out a clear chance in the second half, but Sergio Aguero could not turn a low De Bruyne cross into the back of the net. The visitors continued to threaten in the minutes that followed, but Leicester still carried a threat and Vardy headed straight at Hart in the 53rd minute.
N'Golo Kante was next to come close for Leicester moments later, but the midfielder's dipping effort just moved away from Hart's post, before Albrighton fired across the face of goal as the two teams entered the final 30 minutes on level terms.
Otamendi met a corner from De Bruyne as the visitors came close once again, but Schmeichel was on hand to make a smart stop, before the home side managed to clear the danger during a spell where Manuel Pellegrini's team were threatening.
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Wilfried Bony was introduced for Man City as Aguero departed and the Ivorian came close to opening the scoring 20 minutes from time, but he could only lift his effort over the crossbar after smart work from Sterling in a wide position. Vardy remained a threat, however, and tested Hart with a low drive in the 71st minute.
A powerful free kick from Fuchs tested Hart once again 15 minutes from time, but the England number one was on hand to keep the scores level. Moments later, Wes Morgan put his considerable frame in the way of a Bony strike that looked to be heading for the back of the net.
Three additional minutes were played at the end of the 90, but neither came close in stoppage time as the points were shared in Leicester.
The result has left Leicester second in the top flight behind Arsenal on goal difference, but Man City have jumped above Tottenham Hotspur into third.
Matt Law
