Manchester City through with a point at Gladbach
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Article summary
Manchester City had to come from behind to earn a point that secured their place in the round of 16, with both Josep Guardiola's side and their hosts ending the game with ten men.
Article top media content
Article body
Manchester City secured their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase as Group C runners-up after a 1-1 draw at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Gladbach, for whom this result sufficed to clinch third position and UEFA Europa League entry, were the better team in the first half. Their purposeful counterattacking display earned its reward when Raffael buried a shot past Claudio Bravo after a powerful break down the inside-left channel by Lars Stindl.
City came to life just before the interval and although Yann Sommer saved from Sergio Agüero, he was beaten a minute later when Kevin De Bruyne teed up David Silva. Both teams ended the match a man light with Gladbach skipper Stindl and City midfielder Fernandinho each sent off for two bookable offences.
Key player: Kevin De Bruyne (Man. City)
City had a wealth of attacking talent on the field yet one player stood out for the visitors. De Bruyne has more assists than any other player in this season's Premier League and he was at it again here with another for Silva's goal. Whenever he has the ball, he looks capable of producing something and there was also a fierce long-range strike that drew a flying stop from Sommer in the second half.
Must do better at the back
City are through but if they are going to really achieve something in this competition they have grounds for improvement defensively. John Stones and Nicolás Otamendi were both caught out for the goal, and it was far from the only time that City appeared vulnerable when Gladbach hit them on the counter in the first half. Whether with four at the back or three – as we saw tonight, for the first time in the UEFA Champions League – that's one clean sheet in 13 games now.
Mixed feelings for Gladbach
It is hard not to feel a sense of deja vu after watching Gladbach surrender a one-goal lead at home for the third time in this UEFA Champions League campaign. Barcelona recovered from 1-0 down to claim all three points at Borussia-Park in September, while a late Moussa Dembélé penalty rescued Celtic a share of the spoils three weeks ago. However, given his side's recent lack of form – as well as their numerical disadvantage for some of the second period – André Schubert will be incredibly proud of this performance.
Reporters' views
Matthew Howarth, Mönchengladbach (@UEFAcomMattH)
Gladbach are now without a home win in four matches in all competitions, but this point coupled with Celtic's defeat by Barcelona means the Foals are guaranteed third place in Group C – and a UEFA Europa League berth after the winter break. That was always going to be their objective once the groups were drawn; in that sense, it is mission accomplished for Schubert and company.
Simon Hart, Manchester City (@UEFAcomSimonH)
If City showed the very best of themselves in beating Barcelona three weeks ago, this display was more of a mixed bag. That pace and incisiveness was absent from their football for most of the first period and even when they dominated possession after the restart, wingers Raheem Sterling and Jesús Navas had a limited impact while Agüero endured another goalless outing. True, when City did find their spark in the last moments of the first half, they opened up the home defence twice with ease, but it was not enough. City are through, yet on this evidence still in the development stage under Guardiola.