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Zack Steffen kept a clean sheet as the goalkeeper became the last United States international to make his Champions League debut in Manchester City’s win over Marseille.
Steffen was given the go-ahead to replace the usual number one Manchester United on Saturday and helped City to a 3-0 victory that was won thanks to goals from Ferran Torres, Sergio Agüero and Raheem Sterling.
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Manager Pep Guardiola made nine changes in preparation for the first Manchester derby of the season, but still closed Group C with a fifth win in six games to finish with a club-record 16 points.
Ilkay Gundogan was replaced at halftime with a minor ankle injury, while Guardiola revealed that Aguero will not start against Manchester United despite marking his return from injury with a goal.
“His instinct to score will always be there,” Guardiola said of Agüero. “He had three or four training sessions and the reaction was good. He had 25 minutes and scored a goal step by step.”
It was Steffen’s third start for City after returning from a loan stint in Germany with Fortuna Dusseldorf playing in two Carabao Cup qualifiers earlier in the season.
“I love shutouts! The guys in front of me did a really good job in terms of limiting their chances and I really didn’t have much to do, so kudos to the guys in front of me,” Steffen told the club. website.
“We wanted to get the win and a shutout to keep our confidence going into the derby at the weekend.”
“It’s a great game and we are excited for it.”
The 25-year-old, who made two saves, is one of 10 USMNT record players named to the Champions League teams for this season’s competition alongside Christian Pulisic. [Chelsea], Giovanni Reyna [Borussia Dortmund], Tyler Adams [RB Leipzig], Weston McKennie [Juventus], Sergino Dest [Barcelona], Konrad de la Fuente [Barcelona], Chris Richards [Bayern Munich], Ethan Horvath [Club Brugge] and Alex Mendez [Ajax Amsterdam], with nine making at least one appearance in the group stage.
Source: espn.co.uk
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