Manchester City comfortably extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 17 points with Benjamin Mendy and Gabriel Jesus firing them to a smooth 2-0 win over third-placed Leicester City on Saturday.
The effects of the international break were none the worse on Pep Guardiola’s side, who dominated from the get-go, despite a Fernandinho strike ruled out for offside before Kevin De Bruyne slammed a free kick against the bar.
Leicester, restricted largely to the counter-attack, went close to an opener on the stroke of halftime when Jamie Vardy rounded Ederson and slotted the ball home but was caught a whisker offside.
City were finally rewarded for their control of the game in the 58th minute when, after keeper Kasper Schmeichel had parried out a Riyad Mahrez shot, Leicester failed to clear a Rodri cross and Mendy cut inside Marc Albrighton and side-footed into the far corner.
De Bruyne was at his very best creating the second with an incisive defence-splitting pass to Jesus, who fed Raheem Sterling, with the England international taking his time before returning the pass to the Brazilian who slotted home.
“It was really good today, especially in the first half when we dominated,” said De Bruyne.
“There was one team playing. In the second half they did a bit better, but I think we deserved more goals. Half the team started training on Friday.”
City, have now won 15 straight away games in all competitions, with 74 points from 31 games with Manchester United behind them on 57 from 29 matches and Leicester on 56 from 30.
In the battle for Champions League qualification, Leicester are seven points ahead of fifth-placed West Ham United.
“We didn’t show the quality we have got but that comes with a bit of tiredness sometimes,” said Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers.
“Our organisation was good but we didn’t get through the pitch well at times. If you concede against a team with that much quality they can just hide the ball from you,” he added.
Guardiola’s side play the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
A dominant City now need, at most, 11 points from their remaining seven matches to secure their third Premier League title in four seasons.