De Bruyne’s Free Kick Gives Man City 1-0 Win over Leicester

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City reacts after the English Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City in Leicester, Britain, 29 October 2022. (EPA)
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City reacts after the English Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City in Leicester, Britain, 29 October 2022. (EPA)
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De Bruyne’s Free Kick Gives Man City 1-0 Win over Leicester

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City reacts after the English Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City in Leicester, Britain, 29 October 2022. (EPA)
Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City reacts after the English Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City in Leicester, Britain, 29 October 2022. (EPA)

Kevin de Bruyne's perfectly-struck free kick was enough to overcome the absence of Erling Haaland as Manchester City went top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Leicester on Saturday.

De Bruyne curled in a set piece from 25 yards that went over the Leicester wall and in via the post in the 49th minute to secure a victory that lifted City one point above Arsenal ahead of the Gunners' game against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

“He’s back,” City manager Pep Guardiola said of De Bruyne, having publicly called on the Belgium midfielder recently to produce more. “He was not playing good in the last games. (Today he was) amazing. He knows it.”

City had dominated the first half but lacked a clear focal point in attack after Haaland was ruled out with an ankle problem, the first time the Norway striker has missed a game this season.

Julian Alvarez was given his second league start of the season instead but couldn't carve out many openings despite City being camped in Leicester's half for much of the match.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers' tactics were clear as the hosts sat back deep and defended compactly while waiting for chances to counterattack.

“There was no space. (Alvarez) moved really well but if you put the ball there it’s difficult,” Guardiola said. “When they defend in this position it’s so difficult for all strikers.”

Youri Tielemans nearly equalized for Leicester in the 53rd with a spectacular volley from outside the area that forced a reaction save from Ederson as he tipped the ball onto the crossbar.

That was as close as Leicester came to rescuing a point. Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho wasted two decent chances when he shot well wide after being teed up in the area and then forced a fairly comfortable save from Ederson.



Paolini Battles Past Shnaider at Italian Open, Alcaraz Sets Up Draper Clash

Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates after winning against Diana Shnaider of Russia in their women’s singles quarter final round match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. EPA/FABIO FRUSTACI
Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates after winning against Diana Shnaider of Russia in their women’s singles quarter final round match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. EPA/FABIO FRUSTACI
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Paolini Battles Past Shnaider at Italian Open, Alcaraz Sets Up Draper Clash

Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates after winning against Diana Shnaider of Russia in their women’s singles quarter final round match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. EPA/FABIO FRUSTACI
Jasmine Paolini of Italy celebrates after winning against Diana Shnaider of Russia in their women’s singles quarter final round match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Italy, 13 May 2025. EPA/FABIO FRUSTACI

Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman to reach the Italian Open semi-finals since 2014 when she beat Russian world number 11 Diana Shnaider 6-7(1) 6-4 6-2 on Tuesday.

In a stunning first-set collapse, Paolini was 4-0 up but lost the next five games before Shnaider then forced a tiebreak, which the 21-year-old Russian dominated.

Backed into a corner, world number five Paolini mounted a comeback of her own in the second set, winning six successive games after trailing 4-0.

Down a break in the decider, French Open runner-up Paolini continued to show resilience with the crowd behind her to become the first Italian woman to reach the last four of the WTA 1000 event since doubles partner Sara Errani just over a decade ago.

Paolini, who reached the last four in Rome for the first time, will face Peyton Stearns for a spot in the final after the American knocked out Elina Svitolina 6-2 4-6 7-6(4), Reuters reported.

In the men's draw, world number one Jannik Sinner overcame Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(2) 6-3 to extend his winning streak to 24 matches, which started in October last year.

The 23-year-old continued his run of reaching the quarter-finals at every event played since the start of 2024.

Fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti, seeded eighth, powered to a 7-5 6-4 win against Daniil Medvedev to set up a quarter-final clash with defending champion Alexander Zverev, after the German second seed beat Frenchman Arthur Fils 7-6(3) 6-1.

Earlier on Tuesday, four-times Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a second set blip to beat world number 24 Karen Khachanov 6-3 2-6 7-5 and reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

The third seed will next face Britain's world number five Jack Draper, who rallied from a set down to beat Frenchman Corentin Moutet 1-6 6-4 6-3.

Former Australian Open and US Open semi-finalist Khachanov started well and took a 3-1 lead before Alcaraz responded swiftly to level things up, making it 3-3 and sweeping the next three games to close out the opening set.

Despite being 3-2 down in the second set, Khachanov forced a decider — the first time the 28-year-old Russian had taken a set off Alcaraz in four meetings.

The Spaniard saw his lead slip away again after being up 4-1 in the third as Khachanov clawed his way back to draw level at 4-4, threatening an upset.

However, the 22-year-old Alcaraz steadied himself just in time, breaking Khachanov in the 12th game to clinch victory in two hours and 29 minutes.

"It feels amazing to get the win at the end against a really big and really tough guy like Khachanov," Alcaraz said.

"Physically I struggled a bit. Not any pain on any part of the body, but I was just tired. The match was really tough. I had to run a lot, so I'm just really proud of the way I fought for every ball."