Honours were shared at the King Power Stadium on Sunday Morning between the league’s top two sides.
The Foxes took the lead in the 24th minute as man of the moment Jamie Vardy slotted the ball into the net underneath the oncoming David De Gea, after being superbly played in by Christian Fuchs.
United have been difficult to bury this season and they again showed their resilience by drawing level on the stroke of half time as Bastian Schweinsteiger brushed aside Shinji Okazaki to head home a Daley Blind corner. Schweinsteiger officially opened his United account after his effort against Watford was ruled to be a Troy Deeney own goal.
United’s goal followed a period of Leicester pressure in which they were close to go extending their lead, as Riyad Mahrez was brilliantly denied by the outstretched leg of De Gea.
The second half was a tight affair, but the Foxes will feel as though they should have won the game, with substitute Leonardo Ulloa shooting straight at the United shot stopper following a great break from Mahrez.
Despite the draw, Leicester drop to second following Manchester City’s victory overnight, while United are a point drift in third.
Formations
Claudio Ranieri made only one change to the team that brushed aside Newcastle last weekend. Japanese striker Okazaki was drafted into the team in favour of Ulloa. The side remained structured in a 4-4-2 formation.
Leicester City XI (4-4-2): Schmeichel (GK); Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton; Okazaki, Vardy.
There was much change on the personnel front for the visitors, with Louis van Gaal reshaping to something of a 3-5-2 after lining up in a 4-4-2 against Watford. That saw a grand total of five changes. Memphis Depay, Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Morgan Schneiderlin and Ander Herrera (injury) all dropped out of the starting XI, making way for Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, Matteo Darmian, Michael Carrick and Paddy McNair.
Manchester United XI (3-5-2): De Gea (GK); McNair, Smalling, Blind; Darmian, Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Young, Mata; Rooney, Martial.
Vardy only needed one chance
Had Vardy not scored (and as such broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s much talked about record), it would have been said that the Englishman had a quiet game.
Starved of any real opportunities, Vardy scored with his only shot of the game. Further to Vardy’s only shot, he only had 16 passes.
The stats show that apart from the one lapse in concentration, United’s defence had otherwise coped with Vardy’s threat well.
United with possession, without potency
The Red Devils had the majority of possession (60%) and by far the most passes between the two sides. As has been their problem throughout the season, they have struggled to convert the possession into something meaningful at times.
The passing map tells a tale. United struggle to pass through an organised Leicester defence, often playing the ball slowly, backwards or sideways.
Of their 10 attempts at goal, only two were on target along with four blocked attempts and another four off target.
Less possession, just as potent
As if to underline the differences between how United and the Foxes have gone about their football this season, Leicester actually had more shots on target (three) than their opponents, despite any fewer passes and much less possession. Leicester’s pass completion was only 69%, but that would be no concern to manager Claudio Ranieri.
The key to the Foxes’ success has been the speed in which the ball is moved once they transition from defence to attack. And looking at their passing map, one sees a lot of long, direct, forward passes (even though a large number are unsuccessful). It are these long passes that Vardy thrives on, using his pace to beat defenders, often playing off the shoulder of the last man. As shown with Leicester’s goal, it is a game plan that continues to serve the Foxes well.
This game is not one in which Leicester were at their most potent, however the conversion of the lesser share of possession to goals is consistent with their modus operandi this season.
Chris Smalling continuing his fine form
Smalling was again one of United’s best players. His game included 86% pass accuracy, three interceptions, nine clearances and 60% of his aerial duels were won.
His progression this year has been key for United in a position that many thought the Red Devils were short of enough quality.
He looked assured, read the game well and was a key reason for the Foxes’ struggle to threaten throughout.
Rooney and Martial struggled
Van Gaal lamented both his forwards’ lack of runs behind the Leicester defence. Tellingly, Rooney made way for Memphis Depay after 68 minutes, without any significant impact on the game.
Each player’s respective heat maps provide reinforcement for van Gaal’s observations, and further vindication for Rooney’s substitution.
As poor as Rooney was in particular, the pair was not helped out by their team mates, who seldom provided them with anything enticing or incisive enough to allow the strike duo to have an influence.
Conclusion
This game will be remembered for one moment in particular, that being Vardy’s record-breaking goal. More importantly for Leicester, they have again proved that they can continue to mix it with the traditional heavyweights.
Despite van Gaal’s comments that his side should have won the game, United simply did not threaten enough to gain more than the point they took from the contest.
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