Vardy's Hat-Trick Dispatches Man City On Filbert Way

Heritage
01 Apr 2021
2 Minutes
With Manchester City due to visit King Power Stadium on Saturday, the clash will evoke fond memories for Leicester City supporters.

While the Foxes' record against Man City - one of the leading lights in the English game - is mixed over recent seasons, they have nonetheless secured several notable results in previous encounters.

Most recently, Leicester emerged from Etihad Stadium with a 5-2 success back in September, but ahead of Saturday's meeting, LCFC.com rolls back the clock five years to the winter of 2016...

Leicester City 4 Manchester City 2
Saturday 10 December, 2016
Premier League
King Power Stadium

City's No.9 wheels away after scoring his second goal of the night.

Jamie Vardy netted his first Premier League hat-trick as the Foxes sealed a dominant 4-2 victory over Pep Guardiola's men at King Power Stadium in December 2016.

Despite Man City's standing in the modern game, Leicester were in fact the reigning champions, but Guardiola's men had already started to adapt to the Spaniard's methods following his appointment in the summer.

While the Foxes were flying on their maiden campaign in the UEFA Champions League, their Premier League form left them in the bottom half of the top-flight standings.

However, Claudio Ranieri's men returned to their scintillating best on a chilly, rain-soaked evening on Filbert Way to seal a morale-boosting three points which propelled them up the table.

Inside just three minutes, new signing Islam Slimani slid in a pass to Vardy, who finished well, before a stunner from Andy King doubled Leicester's advantage two minutes later.

Foxes favourite Andy King was on the scoresheet for the home side.

It was 3-0 after just 20 minutes, meanwhile, as Christian Fuchs' long ball was taken down sumptuously by Riyad Mahrez, who played in Vardy to skip past Claudio Bravo and finish.

The former Fleetwood striker's hat-trick was complete with 12 minutes to play, skipping inside his man to convert from the tightest of margins, and needing goal line technology to conform.

While Aleksandar Kolarov and Nolito got two late efforts back for Man City, the Foxes were out of sight, allowing Ranieri to hail an outstanding performance from 'the true Leicester'.

"It was the true Leicester, maybe because we have played so badly in our last few matches, but today we were so strong," he said. "We played smart, slowed down the tempo. I am very pleased for Jamie. When we finished, I said: 'welcome back!'"

City: Zieler; Simpson, Morgan (c), Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez (James 90+2'), King, Amartey, Albrighton; Vardy (Gray 88'), Slimani (Okazaki 78').

Subs not used: Hamer, Chilwell, Musa, Mendy.

Goals: Vardy 3', 20', 78', King 5'.