It was not pretty or particularly convincing but securing three points was all that mattered for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City on Sunday.
Their 2-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium was only the second time in 14 games across all competitions the reigning Premier League champions had won a game.
A goal in each half from Savinho and Erling Haaland did the damage but the home side – and their veteran striker Jamie Vardy in particular – will be kicking themselves at failing to come away with at least a point.
Both City goals came after Vardy missed chances to score and the one he failed to convert from close-range five minutes before Haaland sealed all three points will give the 37-year-old a sleepless night.
“We needed it. All of us,” said Guardiola, who took charge of his 500th game as City manager. “It was not the ideal performance but hopefully the victories will give our mood a better position. It's important to win, it was tight, second half.
“We didn't have enough energy to sustain 90 minutes but hopefully in the new year we can bounce back a bit from a bad moment.
“For the result we have to do something. If you don't perform the results won't come. Now, in the position we are in the results are the most important thing to get points and help our minds. We have another game at home next and many good things happened today.
“Just relief, that is the word to express how all of us feel. We have done incredible things and now we struggle to win games so now it's just relief.”
Guardiola insisted in the build-up to the game that he “will not give up” on turning around the fortunes of a club where he has enjoyed unprecedented success over the last eight years, including a famous treble the season before last.
And a first win on the road since October 20, a clean sheet, Haaland's first goal in five games and Savinho's first goal in English football will have provided the Spaniard with some much-needed relief.
City had almost opened the scoring after seven minutes. Rico Lewis sent a superb ball behind the Leicester defence for captain Kevin De Bruyne – back in Guardiola's starting XI – who in turn picked out Haaland with a low cross. The Norwegian hit the ball first time but his strike was well saved by the boot of home goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
But the visitor's recent defensive frailties were back on show in the 20th minute when Josko Gvardiol attempted to head the ball back to Stefan Ortega but only managed to find Vardy whose low strike from a tight angle was turned out for a corner by the German keeper.
Little over a minute later, City were in front. A quick counter ended with Phil Foden driving a shot from outside the area that Stolarczyk could only parry out and Savinho was on hand to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
It was the Brazilian winger's first goal for City in his 24th appearance since joining in a £30.8 million deal from French side Troyes last summer.
Haaland almost made it 2-0 when he showed pace, power and skill to scythe through the Leicester defence only to send a low strike just wide of the upright.
Leicester, though, almost snatched a leveller five minutes before the break when Facundo Buonanotte headed against the post with City managing to scramble away the rebound.
After half-time, City's nervousness started to kick in and their attacking threat disappeared as Leicester looked the more likely to score next.
Moroccan midfielder Bilal El Khannous curled an effort wide of the target while James Justin went even closer just after the hour mark when he flicked a Vardy header towards goal only for City defender Manuel Akanji to clear off the line.
But the game's turning point came not long after when Stephy Mavididi picked out Vardy six yards out with a perfect cross only for the former England attacker to volley over with Ortega helpless.
And it was to prove a costly miss as City substitute James McAtee showed quick feet to launch an attack down the right wing before feeding De Bruyne who sent the ball out wide to Savinho, whose cross was headed home by Haaland.
It was the big striker's 13th Premier League goal of the campaign to leave him three behind Liverpool's top-scorer Mohamed Salah.
There was still time for Vardy to hit the top of City's bar with a looping header but it was not to be his day as City moved up to fifth in the table with what was only their second win in 10 league games. Leicester's fourth defeat on the spin leaves Ruud van Nistelrooy's side third bottom, two points from safety.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20specs
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
EXPATS
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20several%20factors%20for%20landlords%20to%20consider%20when%20preparing%20to%20establish%20a%20holiday%20home%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3ERevenue%20potential%20of%20the%20unit%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20location%2C%20view%20and%20size%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EDesign%3A%20furnished%20or%20unfurnished.%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Is%20the%20design%20up%20to%20standard%2C%20while%20being%20catchy%20at%20the%20same%20time%3F%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20model%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20will%20it%20be%20managed%20by%20a%20professional%20operator%20or%20directly%20by%20the%20owner%2C%20how%20often%20does%20the%20owner%20wants%20to%20use%20it%20for%20personal%20reasons%3F%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuality%20of%20the%20operator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20guest%20reviews%2C%20customer%20experience%20management%2C%20application%20of%20technology%2C%20average%20utilisation%2C%20scope%20of%20services%20rendered%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Adam%20Nowak%2C%20managing%20director%20of%20Ultimate%20Stay%20Vacation%20Homes%20Rental%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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