City fans applauding to loudly clap their players in at half-time.
There haven’t been many performances to write home about in the Champions League in the last few years but that was exhibition stuff.
Sublime stuff
AN exhilarating 45 minutes.
Silva not being missed
A groan always goes up when David Silva’s name isn’t on the teamsheet – except, perhaps, for last season when the Spaniard was troubled by injury and poor form.
But those groans tonight, after Silva’s gorgeous derby performance, quickly turned to little moans of delight from the City support as they began to see exactly why Ilkay Gundogan has been brought to the club.
He has been excellent, winning the penalty and showing some delightful touches.
It is a frightening prospect for the Premier League that he will improve, and they will have to face him, Silva and De Bruyne in full flow, backed up by the magnificent Fernandinho.
You suspect that De Bruyne will shift out to the right to accommodate that.
Gladbach haven’t been able to live with Sterling and Navas stretching them across the park, opening big holes for Gundogan, De Bruyne and Aguero to exploit.
Of course, the script now is that the visitors pull a goal back and City end up losing momentum or sealing the win late in the game!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
City in total control. Two goals, could have been more.
And what a performance from Ilkay Gundogan!
Slightly less one sided
Slightly.
42mins: Save Bravo!
Great stop to preserve the two goal lead.
Questions for Pep
David Silva has been one of the outstanding players of the season; Gundogan has been the leading light tonight.
Can they both play together and still fit Kevin De Bruyne in? It remains to be seen but you wouldn’t put anything out of Guardiola’s reach the way he has started at the club.
Could have been a cricket score
38mins: Gladbach sub
Very early sub. Kramer the man to go off, Korb his replacement. Tactical tweak in response to City brilliance?
Magic duo
The name on everyone's lips
What a signing
It was an understandably slow start from Gundogan, but he is really showing his ability now, with some delicious short passes and nifty footwork.
It was his pass that launched the City attack which brought the penalty, and he was the man following up and bringing the foul from Kramer.
He also stung the keeper’s hands with a drive - another facet of his game is that he gets a few goals from distance.
29mins: Gundogan chance
The debutant wants a goal. Sommer denies him this time.
More to come
Half time sub perhaps?
Aguero looked to be down after his knee collided with the defender’s. They seem nasty but are pretty easy to run off after the initial blow. He’s up and running and slotting penalties away, and Kelechi Iheanacho has been stood down. That said, another goal before half-time and it might be wise to stick Leroy Sane on in his place.
GOAL! Aguero makes it two!
Two for City, two for Aguero, this time from the spot.
27mins: Penalty to City!
Gundogan fouled in the area and wins the spot kick.
He's ok
24mins: Aguero back on his feet
Aguero was down holding his knee but stretcher bearers have been told to stand down. He will attempt to carry on.
Ferna and Gundogan standing out early
Fernandinho is already looking absolute quality in that deep role. He sprinted back and put in a perfectly timed tackle to stop Wendt’s charge when City were exposed down their right.
But the pass which split Gladbach open and sent De Bruyne free down the right plus another couple of balls, have been top quality.
To think, some people felt he might lose his place when Gundogan was fit.
Pep never stops
Gladbach hadn’t had a sniff of City’s goal as defending wave after wave from the home team had kept them occupied. As City got another corner, what did Guardiola do? Pull John Stones over for a detailed conversation about something he’d spotted. The man will not settle until he’s satisfied with every detail.
20mins: Another City chance
It could be 3-0 already. Brilliant counter attack led by Gundogan leads to a Sterling shot cleared off the line.
The debutant is making his presence felt.
Off to a flyer
We’re getting used to these lightning starts from City - and they’ve looked irresistible so far again tonight.
Guardiola is frustrated by the fact that they’ve not been able to put together an entire 90 minutes yet - but if they can kill teams off early, he needn’t worry too much.
Fantastic start
And a picture to match.
Gladbach ruing that goal
Guardiola can think of a million ways to beat a team so you don’t want to be gifting starts like that to them. Sergio Aguero is very much the fox in the box and you have to stay with him. If Gladbach continue like this they’re in for a sorry beating.
All City
Dominant display from those in blue so far - Fernandinho with an effort that is wide.
11mins: Nearly two!
Brilliant save to turn Gundogan’s drive round the post. So close to a dream debut for the German.
He's just being Sergio
8 mins - Aguero gives City the lead
Dangerous cross by Aleks Kolarov from the left, Aguero drifts in to be in the right place to tap home. Brilliant start.
GOAL! Aguero opens the scoring!
1-0 to City after just eight minutes. Who else?
Keeping questions
It forces a sixth miunute corner which he gathers at the second attempt - and then the kick up field isn’t very convincing either.
Wrong tone
More boos from City fans as the Champions League anthem was played.
A personal opinion is that it sets the wrong tone - even if supporters have every right to protest.
Suspect Guardiola would prefer a more positive tone too.
He issued a plea to fans to make the Etihad a fortress in Europe.
One beneficiary from the delay
Kick off
24 hours later than advertised... we are under way!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment