[ad_1]
Manchester City are looking for a positive result in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions in Germany, this match will be played in Budapest, Hungary, but will still count as Monchengladbach’s home match, meaning any City goals will count as away goals. City won their group with relative ease, while Gladbach advanced in a difficult group alongside Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Pep Guardiola has brought a strong 23-man squad to Hungary, with Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Agüero and Ilkay Gundogan in good shape after recent concerns. The only absent is Nathan Ake, who continues to recover from the injury sustained at the turn of the year.
City arguably did their best performance in the Champions League under Pep Guardiola at this stage last season, beating Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabéu, before winning by the same score behind closed doors at the Etihad to knock out Zinedine Zidane’s men.
Follow below for Puskas Arena’s pre-match preparation, live match updates, and post-match reaction.
85 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityJoe bray
Hofmann stays down
Hofmann is injured, and the VAR has agreed with the referee that there was no fault of Cancello.
84 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityJoe bray
Gladbach wants a penalty
Gladbach’s Hofmann meets Joao Cancelo and falls. The ‘hosts’ want the penalty, but the referee says no.
79 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityJoe bray
Foden and Jesus out
Agüero and Torres.
Things you love to see.
79 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityJoe bray
Aguero comes
The long-awaited return.
78 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityJoe bray
Foden on the bar again
Another rebellious effort by Phil Foden. It just hasn’t happened to him tonight.
76 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityJoe bray
74 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityJoe bray
Another change for Gladbach
Plunger in. Stindl out.
72 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CitySimon Bajkowski
Looking ahead to the next game
The last 20 minutes could give a good idea of who will start against West Ham.
With a two-goal cushion, Guardiola can afford to bring in substitutes, but he can choose to let those already there finish the game and then turn to Stones, De Bruyne and others for league play.
68 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityJoe bray
Enter Mahrez
Replaced Raheem Sterling. A decent shift.
65 ‘- Gladbach 0-2 CityKEY EVENT
Jesus is not wrong this time!
Gabriel Jesus amends that fault, converting from near another brilliant Cancello cross that Bernardo directs into the six-yard box.
64 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Gladbach opportunity
Go to town.
The center enters the area and Alassane Plea hooks a shot towards the goal with an acrobatic effort. Just width.
Gladbach made a double change: Lainer and Plea out, Lazaro and Marcus Thuram in.
58 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CitySimon Bajkowski
Guardiola’s dilemma
City can close out this tie tonight if they do so in this second half, but one wonders how Guardiola will want to cope with City’s past disappointments in Europe.
They are currently in control of the tie – do they risk losing it to push for an easier comeback match?
53 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Jesus’ effort denied
Gabriel Jesús has finished after a bad back pass, with all the time in the world, but he takes too long and allows the challenge to enter and prevent him from shooting far. Very poor.
Pep Guardiola is not happy.
52 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Not much to report
It’s been a more even start to the second half, Gladbach trying to create a bit more than the first half, and City just making sure they are solid at the back and in possession.
45 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Back on track
It seems that there are no changes for either side. We are back on track.
HT – Gladbach 0-1 CityKEY EVENT
Gladbach vs City match in pictures
HT – Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Solid city in the back
This is a ridiculous statistic.
HT – Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Part time question
Some good performances in that half, continuing a good season for several players.
So we want to know: can you reduce those players in form to a player of the season so far?
HT – Gladbach 0-1 CitySimon Bajkowski
Part time qualifications
Ederson 6
Wayfarer 8
7 days
Laporte 7
Cancel 8
Rodri 7
Gundogan 7
Bernardo 8
Sterling 5
Foden 7
Jesus 7
HT – Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Halftime
There is the whistle.
The city leads and is in full control. The only downside to that half is that only one goal was scored.
But what a goal it was, a beautiful center from Joao Cancelo finished off well at home by Bernardo. More of the same after the break, Blues!
45 + 1 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
In added time
We are in the only minute of added time. Phil Foden hits one more.
44 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Looking for a second
City camp inside Gladbach field looking for a second just before half-time.
41 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
Cancel warnings
Above the range bar.
Monchengladbach haven’t offered anything since conceding that away goal.
34 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityKEY EVENT
Watch Bernardo score from a perfect cross from Cancelo
Good headline. Better to cross.
32 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CitySimon Bajkowski
More lenses on offer
Raheem Sterling wanted a penalty or corner on his last attack, but City scored from the goal kick.
They have pushed well throughout the game and have punished their opponents for leaving them now. There are more goals if you want them.
31 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityJoe bray
28 ‘- Gladbach 0-1 CityKEY EVENT
Bernardo scores !!
What a ball for Cancelo. What a header from Bernardo!
Cancelo takes a punt, cuts inside with his right foot and sends a perfect cross over the last defender to the back post. Bernardo has timed his career to perfection and directs a header to the far corner.
Leader of the city!
28 ‘- Gladbach 0-0 CityJoe bray
Sterling wants a pity
Raheem Sterling falls but the referee is not convinced and awards a goal kick.
It looks like the defender really got a touch, so it should have been a corner, not a penalty.
21 ‘- Gladbach 0-0 CityStuart brennan
Frustrating sterling
For a player of his quality and efficiency, Raheem Sterling can be very frustrating at times.
City have created three chances in the first 15 minutes: the first was disappointed by the touch of the England man, the second by wanting too much time with the ball and the third by clearing Jesús’ cocked right foot.
Such indecision at key moments has cost City in this competition in the past.
19 ‘- Gladbach 0-0 CityJoe bray
Walker does it right
For the first time, Gladbach goes over the top and has a vision of goal. Kyle Walker recovers well and cuts the ball low to the center. A warning sign.
[ad_2]
