Foxes Held By Palace In London
Usual suspect Jamie Vardy got the opener before Stephy Mavididi netted his first goal in England's top division to double the advantage. However, two goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta, one of which came from the penalty spot in injury time, rescued a point for the hosts.
Steve Cooper made only one change to his side, with Mavididi earning a spot in the starting XI in place of Abdul Fatawu, who featured over the international break for Ghana. The Foxes, looking to win here for the first time since 2019, had former Eagle Jordan Ayew among their attack, although Odsonne Édouard was ineligible due to his loan arrangement.
In their Ice Kings-inspired third kit for the first time, City pressed from the off and it was Ayew who would have an opportunity to net against his former employers inside five minutes. Wilfred Ndidi picked out the No.18, but he struck into the ground and his effort bounced over Dean Henderson's crossbar. Caleb Okoli then delivered a crunching challenge on Mateta in the south London sunshine.
Mavididi, dazzling in all white, gave the right-hand side of Palace's defence problems but Henderson was there to claim the delivery with James Justin arriving at the far post. Oliver Skipp, well accustomed to the capital city following a lengthy spell at Tottenham Hotspur, slid a ball through for Ayew, who took a touch to round Henderson but it was too heavy and ran out of play for a goal-kick. A brace of well-timed blocks from Wout Faes prevented Daniel Muñoz and then Mateta from testing Mads Hermansen, who was eventually called into action to make a save from Palace summer signing Eddie Nketiah.
Leicester were playing well and capitalised on their positive play on the first half's midway point. Ndidi was able to win possession in midfield and immediately release Vardy, who rounded Henderson and slotted in for 1-0 – his second goal of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. Mavididi and Okoli too threatened the Eagles goal as City kicked on and looked to build on leading a game the first time in the league this term. Eberechi Eze thought he'd levelled matters, or at least assisted Mateta to do so on 35 minutes, only to see his curling attempt flash wide of Hermansen's left-hand post. Seconds before the fourth official's board signalled four minutes of time to be added on, Mavididi clipped the Palace net after Vardy had teed the winger up. Vardy's strike, though, was enough to separate the two sides at half-time.
Seconds after Vardy got the ball rolling for the second half, City were two up. Justin's cross from the right fell to Ndidi, who hooked it back for Mavididi and the No.10 blasted home his first Premier League goal. But almost immediately, Palace's deficit reverted back to one goal – after a lengthy VAR check for offside, Mateta was deemed onside as he finished beyond Hermansen. It was turning into a feisty affair as both outfits gave everything for the points on offer – Justin again showed he was a danger in the final third, smashing a drive, always rising, towards Henderson's goal.
Urged on by the home crowd, the Eagles came within inches of an equaliser with 68 minutes on the clock as former Arsenal frontman Nketiah struck narrowly wide of the far post. At the other end, only a last-ditch challenge from Muñoz prevented Skipp from getting one-on-one with Henderson. Then came City's first substitution of the afternoon, Fatawu replacing goalscorer Mavididi with under 20 minutes of normal time remaining. A superb block from Okoli – not his first of the afternoon, either – prevented Eze from converting from close range. Shortly after, Ndidi, with two assists to his name, came off in place of Academy graduate Hamza Choudhury as Cooper introduced fresh legs into his midfield. Into the final 10 minutes, Conor Coady entered as Ayew's afternoon against his former colleagues came to an end.
Palace set about their search for a late leveller. Mateta was off target with two headers, either side of Hermansen smothering the ball with the Palace No.14 closing in on him. But the Frenchman would grab his second goal in the second of five added minutes, converting from the spot after Coady had felled substitute Ismaïla Sarr. A harsh result for City, who had looked on course for their first league win of the campaign. Back to King Power Stadium in a week's time as Everton come to town, with good reason for optimism.