Manchester City went into their last Group game in the Champions League knowing that if they didn't win against Bayern they would exit the competition with a whimper. In the run up to the game all the media were focused on were the exit of the Manchester millionaires before even a ball was kicked. Now, progression was not guaranteed with a win at the Etihad stadium and with Mancunian eyes half on Manchester and half on Spain the game kicked off.
City were handicapped further with the inclusion of Savic at rightback with both first choice right backs carrying injuries. Micah Richards was out of the game altogether but at least Zabaletta was on the bench should he be needed.
Early on City looked good going forward but just failed to make the final move count. Bayern, with a multitude of changes from the team that beat City 2-0 in Germany, looked content to sit in their own half and break when the chance arose. It looked a matter of when and not if City would score. With a quarter of an hour on the clock Lescott, Silva and City thought they had got the opener when the Spaniard floated in a freekick which eluded everyone and nestled in the back of the net. Mr Lannoy ajudged Lescott to have jumped unfairly with Butts, the Munich keeper, and celebrations were put temporarily on hold.
Twenty minutes later, after almost unrelenting City pressure, David Silva, who had only just stepped back onto the pitch from a cynical foul collected a flick from Dzeko before half volleying it past Butts. City 1-0 up and with the other game still being goaless it saw City leapfrog Napoli into second place.
From then on City turned it up a notch with Aguero having a shot saved from off the line from ex City defender Boateng, Barry sends an effort wide, Silva tries to take the German goalkeeper s head off. Just before the half Aguero curls a shot just wide to prove City's dominance in this first half. However a lot can change in 45 minutes, and that plus stoppage time is what now stood between City and the Champions League last 16.
Early in the second half City go 2-0 up through Yaya Toure after he got fed by Dzeko before finishing smartly against an on rushing Butts. From then on City were in control of their own match but still were not certain of events at Villarreal. For about five minutes or so around the hour mark, Bayern had great pressure resulting in a great save from Hart who saved well low to his left. Five minutes later news came from Spain that Napoli had scored the goal they needed and City, despite the winning scoreline, dropped back to third in Group A. There was still time to go but now City needed a goal from Villarreal more than any at their stadium right now.
With a little over ten minutes left news once again filtered through of a goal in Spain, and once again it was not welcome. Napoli scored their second to ensure that everything they went through at City's expense. Certainly it was a tough group and City didn't have the best of starts but you know that we will be back and we will be better. For now at least though it is adieu Champions League, bonjour Europa!
Written By: PA Cityboy (www.facebook.com/pacityboy)
No comments:
Post a Comment