Manchester Metropolis 0Bayer Leverkusen 2 (Alejandro Grimaldo 23′, Patrik Shick 54′)
Manchester Metropolis have fallen to their first defeat on this season’s UEFA Champions League with a 2-nil defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on the Etihad Stadium tonight. Objectives from Alejandro Grimaldo and Parick Schick had been sufficient for Leverkusen to sentence Metropolis to a disappointing defeat.
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When the Pep Guardiola had made ten modifications to the lineup that was overwhelmed by Newcastle. Nico was the one participant to retain his place within the Metropolis beginning eleven from that match. Tonight’s match was a chance for Metropolis’s fringe gamers to impress and so they needed to take it to spice up their very own confidence and to point out Pep Guardiola that they’re prepared for extra minutes because the fixture listing ramps up within the coming weeks. Come the ultimate whistle Metropolis’s fringe gamers had put in a disjointed show in opposition to a well-managed and high quality opponent.
First half
Manchester Metropolis made a brilliant begin to the match and virtually took the lead within the fifth minute. After a nook Metropolis recycled the ball and Oscar Bobb picked out Nathan Ake on the sting of the Leverkusen six-yard field and the Dutch worldwide fired in a snap shot at aim. Mark Flekken made a wise save to push the ball behind for a nook to stop Metropolis from taking an early lead.
Throughout the primary 10 minutes, it was clear that Metropolis’s fringe gamers had been wanting to impress. Within the eleventh minute, a determined block from Rayan Ait-Nouri prevented a stinging Ernest Poku shot from the right-hand facet of Metropolis’s space from testing James Trafford. It was an early warning from Leverkusen that they weren’t going to roll over for Pep Guardiola’s facet on the Etihad.
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From the tenth to the twentieth minute the sport remained open however neither facet created any vital probabilities. Manchester Metropolis’s press did create a gap within the seventeenth minute however Metropolis’s attacking gamers tried to do an excessive amount of and the transfer broke down. Because the transfer broke down it sparked a Bayer Leverkusen counterattack. Ernest Poku received himself right into a harmful place within the Metropolis space however a robust Rayan Ait-Nouri problem as soon as once more denied Poku.
Bayer Leverkusen take the lead as they expose Manchester Metropolis’s left-hand facet.
Kasper Hjulmand’s facet would take the lead within the twenty third minute. The guests performed themselves out from the again and so they discovered acres of area in midfield. The ball was labored out to the proper to Christian Kofane who dinked in a top quality ball into the Metropolis space. The ball fell to Leverkusen left-back Alejandro Grimaldo who confirmed nice method to beat James Trafford with an beautiful left-footed strike from inside Metropolis’s space to present Leverkusen the lead. The transfer got here as Kofane was present in area on the left-hand facet as he received in behind Rayan Ait-Nouri at left-back who couldn’t get again to cease Kofane from enjoying within the cross.
Following Leverkusen’s aim the hosts grew in confidence. They had been having success enjoying by means of Manchester Metropolis’s press which was giving them area to counter. Pep Guardiola’s facet was struggling to create any actual openings in opposition to a packed Leverkusen defence. The very best probabilities for Metropolis got here when Savinho may beat his Ernest Poku out extensive on the left however Metropolis had been struggling to interrupt down Kasper Hjulmand’s facet.
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Oscar Bobb would drive Mark Flekken right into a save within the forty third minute. A spell of Metropolis stress noticed Bobb obtain the ball on the proper. Bobb drove previous two Leverkusen defenders and performed a ball throughout the Leverkusen six-yard field. His cross took a deflection and Flekken caught out a leg to maintain the ball from discovering a Metropolis participant for a tap-in.
Tijjani Reijnders spurns Manchester Metropolis’s finest probability of the primary half.
Tijjani Reijnders would waste Manchester Metropolis’s finest probability of the primary half a minute. Bayer Leverkusen gave the ball away in a harmful space when enjoying out from the again. Reijnders drove into the field and hit a stinging shot straight at Mark Flekken who punched the ball away. Reijnders ought to have scored and he’s a participant who desperately wants a aim for his confidence.
Tijjani Reijnders shot could be the final vital second of the primary half. Manchester Metropolis had put in a disjointed efficiency up till halftime. Bayer Leverkusen had spells of possession and their potential to play by means of Metropolis’s press and counter was inflicting Pep Guardiola’s facet points. It led to Alejandro Grimaldo’s aim and Metropolis had work to do to show the match round at halftime.
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Second half
Pep Guardiola made three substitutions at halftime. Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly changed Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Ait-Nouri as Guardiola recognised Metropolis’s want for extra attacking impetus and menace.
Regardless of the modifications Pep Guardiola made, Bayer Leverkusen would double their lead within the 54th minute. Patrik Schick would head Leverkusen right into a two aim lead after he received on the top of an Ibrahim Maza cross. It was a typical number-nine end from Schick. Shick had been nameless till that second however he confirmed his high quality with a elegant end to beat James Trafford.
Savinho would hearth a volley extensive within the 56th minute as Pep Guardiola summoned Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki to attempt to discover a aim for his workforce. Bayer Leverkusen had been posing a continuing menace on the break and had been defending resolutely and had been good worth for his or her lead.
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The introduction of Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki did give Metropolis a extra outstanding attacking menace. Within the 69th minute Mark Flekken would deny Erling Haaland with an excellent save as Haaland appeared be across the Leverkusen keeper. Flekken was in elegant kind and it appeared it doesn’t matter what Metropolis did, they couldn’t beat the Leverkusen goalkeeper.
Within the ultimate 20 minutes Manchester Metropolis would see a bunch of probabilities blocked and squandered. However it wasn’t sustained dominance from Pep Guardiola’s facet. Bayer Leverkusen defended properly and resolutely and completely deserved their 2-nil victory when the ultimate whistle blew.
First ideas on the ultimate whistle.
Pep Guardiola used tonight’s match to present Manchester Metropolis’s fringe gamers minutes they desperately wanted. Sadly, that transfer backfired. Manchester Metropolis ran right into a decided and well-managed Bayer Leverkusen facet. The guests had been arrange beautifully tactically and so they exploited Manchester Metropolis’s weaknesses to expire 2-nil winners. For Metropolis, the sport confirmed their main deficiency when Erling Haaland doesn’t begin. They lack a constant aim scorer and aren’t the identical workforce with out their number-nine.
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Manchester Metropolis’s fringe gamers did not take their alternative and Metropolis’s efficiency does go away query marks as to how robust this Metropolis squad is and the way they’ll conjure up targets when Haaland isn’t within the beginning lineup.