500 up: Ten of Pep's most memorable City games | OneFootball

As Pep Guardiola prepares to oversee his 500th game in charge of Manchester City at Leicester on Sunday, we reflect on some of his standout moments in charge to date...

Along the way to that 500 milestone, the Catalan has helped City accumulate 18 major trophies and, in the process, established the Club as the dominant force in English football over the past seven years.

The trophy haul alone makes for staggering reading.

Six Premier League titles, four League Cups, three Community Shields, two FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup all for good measure illustrate the magnitude of his achievements.

En route to his 500 game milestone, there have been countless memorable matches under Pep’s leadership.

Trying to narrow them down to a definitive top 10 is a nigh-on impossible task – such is the wealth of enduring memories and magic moments.

But we have sought to highlight 10 of the most significant and memorable games City have navigated with Pep at the helm across the arc of his reign to date.

Man Utd 1-2 City, 10 December 2017

Any victory against Manchester United is one to be savoured but this particular triumph amidst a full-blooded Old Trafford derby served as a real statement of intent for Pep’s City.

In what his second season at the Etihad helm, the Catalan had fashioned a thrilling City side who married the beautiful with the bold and were laying down the template that would see us go on to become the pre-eminent force in the English game.

WATCH: Classic highlights: United 1-2 City 2017

The stakes couldn’t have been higher as the two Manchester foes squared up to each other once again.

City went into the game on the back of a 13-game winning run in the league. United meanwhile were seeking to extend a 40 game unbeaten home record and a 100 per cent run of home results so far across 2017/18.

The fact that Pep was pitted against United counterpart Jose Mourinho only added a further dramatic twist to the plot.

Something had to give and it was United who blinked first – David Silva’s acrobatic finish silencing the home fans only for Marcus Rashford to strike and so level affairs shortly before the break.

It was City though who prevailed, Nicola Otamendi the unlikely match winner as the Argentine defender volleyed home from close range.

City were then indebted to goalkeeper Ederson – one of a number of key summer recruits by the boss – with the Brazilian producing a stunning double save to deny Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata.

His heroics helped secure a record-equalling 14th straight league win and sent City 11 points clear at the top of the table – a position we never subsequently relinquished that term.

Southampton 0-1 City, 13 May 2018

By the time City stepped out at the St Mary’s Stadium for the final assignment of the 2017/18 campaign, we had already long since been crowned champions with Pep masterminding his first Premier League title in thrilling fashion.

However, there was one last target in sight for City – the opportunity to become the first side in Premier League history to amass 100 points in a season.

WATCH: Centurions! Southampton v City extended highlights

To achieve that lofty target City stepped out on the South Coast knowing only victory would suffice to reach three figures.

However, for 90 plus frustrating minutes it looked as if we would have to settle for a goalless draw before, with almost the last kick of the game, Gabriel Jesus struck a quite brilliant injury time winner.

It meant City became the first top-flight side to achieve the magical milestone of 100 points in a season.

We finished 19 points ahead of second-placed United, with a record number of goals with the century rounding off a magical season for Pep and City.

City 2-1 Liverpool, 3 January 2019

Another huge night at the Etihad. Another occasion when Pep’s City delivered under the most acute pressure as the 2018/19 title race saw a face-off between the two supreme prize fighters.

There was no margin for error whatsoever as Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool arrived seven points clear of Guardiola’s side at the top of the table.

WATCH: Classic highlights: City 2-1 Liverpool 2019

The Merseyside outfit played their part in one of the most enthralling title races in English football history and were on a 20-match unbeaten run coming into the game.

Not surprisingly, it was tense. Really tense.

John Stones’ dramatic goalline clearance, with the ball just 1.12cm away from giving the visitors the lead, was evidence of that.

Sergio Aguero then struck to hand City the lead with a quite stunning near post drive from the acutest of angles before Roberto Firmino’s header suggested the spoils would be shared.

As so often however City had the last and decisive word, Leroy Sane’s pinpoint finish sending the Etihad wild and propelling City on the road to one of the Club’s most memorable and hard-won title successes.

City 1-0 Leicester, 6 May 2019

History repeated itself at the Etihad on a nerve-wracking Monday night in May as captain Vincent Kompany produced a crucial goal to keep our title aspirations on course.

The talismanic Belgian had done the same in the third to last game of our 2012 triumph, though his towering header against Manchester United felt less surprising.

This time round, City’s captain colossus conjured up a moment for the ages.

WATCH: Classic highlights: City 1-0 Leicester

With time running out, City, facing Leicester in our penultimate match, again needed inspiration in a clash we dominated, just as we had done seven years earlier.

Again, Kompany provided it, but in vastly different circumstances, catching everyone at the Etihad by surprise with a spectacular 25-yard effort that soared into the top corner.

It was monumental moment from a player who had a monumental impact on the Club’s success during this decade.

Liverpool 1-4 City, 7 February 2021

Traditionally trips to Anfield had more often than not ended in disappointment and frustration for City down the years.

Somewhat incredibly, prior to this match, City had tasted victory at Liverpool’s lair just three times in 65 years

But all that changed on a remarkable Sunday where Pep’s troops served up on the finest displays of his reign to date as we recorded our first win at the Merseyside ground since 2003.

In a game played during behind closed doors during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that affected every facet of society, a majestic City display provided some moments to truly savour for our supporters.

WATCH: Liverpool 1-4 City: Extended highlights

With City chasing a fifth Premier League crown in 2020/2021, Pep’s side swept reigning champions Liverpool aside thanks to an electric display at Anfield, moving five points clear at the league’s summit.

After a goalless first half, which saw Ilkay Gundogan miss a penalty, we were fast out the blocks from the interval as the German international made amends by opening the scoring two minutes after the restart.

He was then in the thick of the action again when he once again handed us the advantage after Mohamed Salah’s penalty had levelled the score.

City then moved through the gears as Raheem Sterling headed us into a two-goal lead shortly after, before Foden capped off a breath-taking individual display by scoring the fourth.

It was also a victory across the ages for the boss as it represented Guardiola’s first away win at Liverpool as a manager.

City 3-2 Aston Villa, 22 May 2022

City are no strangers to final day Premier League title dramatics and Guardiola’s side provided another emotional roller-coaster ride on the final day of the 2021/22 title race.

Pep’s side staged another incredible final day fightback, conjuring up three goals in five second half minutes to dramatically beat Aston Villa 3-2 and so retain the Premier League title at a nerve-shredded Etihad.

Needing a win to be sure of the title, City instead found ourselves 2-0 down midway through the second half and in grave danger of losing the crown to Liverpool, who beat Wolves 3-1.

WATCH: City 3-2 Aston Villa: Extended highlights

However, in quite remarkable scenes reminiscent of our first Premier League triumph against Queens Park Rangers 10 years earlier, with the same uncanny scoreline, City summoned up the most unbelievable of comebacks to seize the crown, as a brace from substitute Ilkay Gundogan and a Rodrigo strike lifted the lid off the Etihad.

It was a fightback full of grit and character and one worthy of any title-winning side.

It meant we retained the title, secured a fourth crown in five years under Guardiola and handed departing Club captain Fernandinho the perfect emotional send off.

City 4-0 Real Madrid, 17 May 2023

A spell binding European night under the Etihad lights arguably served as the finest display to date for Pep’s City.

Pitted against the reigning Champions League holders and self-styled Kings of Europe, the draw saw City and Real meet at the semi-final stage for the second successive season.

A 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu a week earlier meant the tie was delicately poised going into the decider with a place in the final against Internazionale the prize.

It was billed as a contest too close to call – instead City delivered a ruthless, relentless performance packed with quality to overpower the holders and secure our ticket to a second Champions League final.

WATCH: City 4-0 Real Madrid 2022/23: Match highlights

Our display, especially in a quite beautiful and bewitching first half elevate the art of football to whole new level with the masters of this tournament despatched in clinical fashion.

Two first half goals from the irrepressible Bernardo Silva put Guardiola’s men firmly in the driving seat.

And a header from Manuel Akanji 14 minutes from time sealed the deal before an injury time Julian Alvarez completed the rout amidst scenes of unconfined joy.

It was a masterful display that served as the very essence of what Pep and City stand for.

City 2-1 Man Utd, 3 June 2023

In the first-ever all-Manchester FA Cup final, a sublime Ilkay Gundogan brace saw City lift the trophy for the seventh time in our history on what proved an unforgettable day.

The Wembley triumph meant Guardiola’s side secured a Premier League and FA Cup Double just a fortnight after City had clinched our third league title in a row.

A spellbinding and action packed first ever all-Manchester final had seen the City skipper fire us ahead in just 12 seconds with a stunning volley that was the fastest goal in FA Cup final history.

WATCH: City 2-1 Manchester United: Extended FA Cup final highlights

United though drew level on 33 minutes through a Bruno Fernandes penalty awarded after a VAR check had ruled that Jack Grealish had handled in the box.

However, Gundogan once again showed his knack of delivering in the biggest moments.

The German midfielder’s 51st minute volley beating De Gea’s despairing dive and securing City our seventh and arguably sweetest FA Cup final triumph of them all.

Victory also left City just 90 minutes from a historic Treble with a Champions League final against Inter looming just seven days later…

City 1-0 Internazionale, 10 June 2023

The most magical and memorable night in Manchester City history saw Pep lead the Club to a first-ever UEFA Champions League title – and with it achieve the Holy Grail of the Treble.

An unforgettable second half strike from Rodri proved enough to see off a talented and dangerous Internazionale side and so seal City’s place amongst the pantheon of all-time great sides.

It meant we became only the second-ever English team to achieve the staggering feat of lifting the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.

WATCH: City 1-0 Inter: Extended Champions League final highlights

What’s more it further cemented Pep’s standing as one of football’s most inspired and truly transformative managers.

In truth, it wasn’t the greatest performance by City – and Inter served up a nerve-wracking final quarter.

But this was a night where it was all about the result and the achievement.

And the outpouring of emotion afterwards – both on and off the pitch – spoke volumes as the enormity of the occasion and what it meant to Pep, his players and staff and City’s worldwide army of fans.

File under legendary.

Spurs 0-2 City, 14 May 2024

Since Spurs had taken up residency at their new ground in 2019, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had proved the unhappiest of hunting grounds for City – an FA Cup win aside.

However, all that was to change on arguably the most dramatic and pivotal night of the 2023/24 Premier League title race.

A second half brace from Erling Haaland saw City secure a priceless 2-0 victory at Spurs – and moved Pep Guardiola’s side back to the top of the Premier League table and within one win of what would prove an historic fourth straight title.

WATCH: Extended highlights: Spurs 0-2 City

It marked City’s first-ever league victory – and goals – at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with both arriving on the most auspicious of occasions.

On what was a tense, eventful night, City also had to bring substitute ‘keeper Stefan Ortega Moreno on for Ederson midway through the second half after the Brazilian hurt his head in a collision with Cristian Romero.

And the German made his impact immediately felt with a series of quite outstanding saves - including one stunning block to deny Son Heung-Min when the Korean was through one-on-one - to keep the hosts out.

But City found a way to navigate what was our eighth successive league win with Haaland opening the scoring with a close range 52nd minute opener and then sealing victory with a 90th minute penalty which extended our Club record unbeaten run across all competitions to 34 games.

Far more importantly, the triumph sent City two points clear of Arsenal and meant that victory at home West Ham the following Sunday would secure a fourth successive league title – something no English side has ever achieved before.