“The first part of the season is so important, to qualify for the next round. We did it – and now we can focus on the Premier League”
, Guardiola - 23/11/2016
Goals; Raffael (23'); Silva (46')
Line Up (3-1-4-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Bravo (5)
Otamendi (6)
Stones (6)
Kolorov (6)
Gundogan (7),
Fernandinho (7)
Sterling (6)
Silva (8),
De Bruyne (7)
Navas (6)
Aguero (6)
Stats; Possession 31%/69%; Shots 12(5)/11(7); Fouls 13/10.
Line Up (3-1-4-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Bravo (5)
Otamendi (6)
Stones (6)
Kolorov (6)
Gundogan (7),
Fernandinho (7)
Sterling (6)
Silva (8),
De Bruyne (7)
Navas (6)
Aguero (6)
Stats; Possession 31%/69%; Shots 12(5)/11(7); Fouls 13/10.
The last few weeks have been somewhat of a yo-yo. Depending on which hour of the day you look on social media you will gauge a different overall consensus on the blues this season. From the fantastic to the "fraudulent". City’s last away fixture in the group C quite nicely summarised this bipolar opinion.
City started with three at the back; Stones, Kolarov and Otamendi providing the base for the remaining 8 to roam with attacking intent. This was by no means a match to remember. City just weren’t really clicking in the first half. One eye over their shoulders at the goings on at Celtic Park was inevitable.
Meanwhile, Gladbach seemed the more determined to make their mark. That they did on the 23’ as John Stones controversially lost out in a 50/50 battle just inside the City half. The ball finding Raffael on the edge of the City box for his shot to be deflected past Bravo. Still struggling to keep a clean sheet and City were at risk of taking the ‘typical’ route.
However, City began to control possession slightly and if it wasn’t for Sergio having Ice-skates on again he may have found himself one on one with Sommer on a few occasions. Heading into the final minutes, the game was evenly balanced with no team boasting any real intensity. In added time in the first half it was quality that brought City level. Sterling found De Bruyne marauding forward who cut back towards the six yard box for skipper Silva to poke the ball into the German sides net. All square and yet another assist for our Belgian crack.
After the break this one can only be described as, well, odd. On 50’ the Gladbach captain, Stindl, was shown a second yellow for an off the ball body check on Otamendi just inside the City half. What a moron. This is where you expected City to go on to dominate. The aptly named Turkish referee Cuneyt, had other ideas. On 60’ Fernandinho was also shown a second yellow for what seemed to be a throwback to Kevin Horlock’s aggressive walking.
From here on in, the game seemed to simmer. Was it the exciting attacking football we want to see every minute of the match? Unfortunately not. However, if City had gone on to leave men forward we all would have been more annoyed if we left ourselved vulnerable or got a man injured. This is just one more positive step forward in establishing ourselves as a Champions League force. It was unnecessary to push for the victory. Burnley away will be an extremely tough game on Saturday. It is this level of game management that separates the winners from the also ran’s in this competition. We are in the pot and with the luck of the draw we could be closer than everyone thinks to that pot with big ears.
@PatrickElano
City started with three at the back; Stones, Kolarov and Otamendi providing the base for the remaining 8 to roam with attacking intent. This was by no means a match to remember. City just weren’t really clicking in the first half. One eye over their shoulders at the goings on at Celtic Park was inevitable.
Meanwhile, Gladbach seemed the more determined to make their mark. That they did on the 23’ as John Stones controversially lost out in a 50/50 battle just inside the City half. The ball finding Raffael on the edge of the City box for his shot to be deflected past Bravo. Still struggling to keep a clean sheet and City were at risk of taking the ‘typical’ route.
However, City began to control possession slightly and if it wasn’t for Sergio having Ice-skates on again he may have found himself one on one with Sommer on a few occasions. Heading into the final minutes, the game was evenly balanced with no team boasting any real intensity. In added time in the first half it was quality that brought City level. Sterling found De Bruyne marauding forward who cut back towards the six yard box for skipper Silva to poke the ball into the German sides net. All square and yet another assist for our Belgian crack.
After the break this one can only be described as, well, odd. On 50’ the Gladbach captain, Stindl, was shown a second yellow for an off the ball body check on Otamendi just inside the City half. What a moron. This is where you expected City to go on to dominate. The aptly named Turkish referee Cuneyt, had other ideas. On 60’ Fernandinho was also shown a second yellow for what seemed to be a throwback to Kevin Horlock’s aggressive walking.
From here on in, the game seemed to simmer. Was it the exciting attacking football we want to see every minute of the match? Unfortunately not. However, if City had gone on to leave men forward we all would have been more annoyed if we left ourselved vulnerable or got a man injured. This is just one more positive step forward in establishing ourselves as a Champions League force. It was unnecessary to push for the victory. Burnley away will be an extremely tough game on Saturday. It is this level of game management that separates the winners from the also ran’s in this competition. We are in the pot and with the luck of the draw we could be closer than everyone thinks to that pot with big ears.
@PatrickElano
