Man City vs FC Porto recaps and reaction in the Blues 3-1 victory

Fernandinho reacts to the blow of the injury

Days: defending was unacceptable

Ruben Dias says that the City defense for Porto’s goal was unacceptable.

He told BT Sport:

“We can’t concede a goal like that. Someone has to stop it and we need to regroup better, but football is about mistakes and learning from them. The teams that learn the best are the teams that grow the best.”

Guardiola’s full comments on Fernandinho

Four to six weeks for Ferna

Guardiola confirms Fernandinho injury

Pep Guardiola says it is ‘bad news’ about Fernandinho’s injury, saying it is a recurrence of a previous problem and that he is ready for a period on the sidelines.

Bernardo delighted to beat his rivals

Bernardo Silva, who spent at Benfica, is quite happy to have beaten Porto tonight.

SEE: Featured images of the Etihad Stadium

Gundogan: I’m glad Pep didn’t take me away!

Ilkay Gundogan says he is happy Pep Guardiola waited until after his free kick goal to replace him with Phil Foden.

He told BT Sport:

It had a lot to be honest. We fight in different periods of the game. Obviously we conceded the first goal, so it was even more difficult to come back. In periods we play quite well and in periods we can still improve. So in the end the most important thing is that we have the three points and we started the competition well.

I have to admit that I don’t practice much but there are certain distances where I feel comfortable with a free kick. That was the perfect distance for me. I had a little argument with Raheem and he was pretty sure to take it. Thanks to him for allowing me to take it. Obviously I am very happy to have scored.

I’m glad you didn’t [make the substitution]! I was pretty sure he was going to take me off, but I saw that there was a chance for me, so thankfully he didn’t overpower me.

Top of the group!

Olympiacos beat Marseille in the other group match by one goal, making City top Group C ahead of next week’s trip to France.

Player Ratings: Good Gundogan, Poor Cancello

Ederson: An unconvincing performance, having been so good against Arsenal (and for much of the Leeds game). He couldn’t do anything for the goal, but he knows that he shouldn’t pass to rival players in his own area. 5

Walker: Walker is in excellent shape and stood out more as more of his teammates around him screwed up. He dealt with the threat of the speedy Luis Diaz very well and his pace and awareness remain among the team’s greatest strengths. 8

Days: Maybe he’s human after all. A bad pass gave Porto the platform to score the first goal and he was about to score an own goal on the edge of half-time. There is no reason to panic, but you will be disappointed. 5

Garcia: If he coped well against Moussa Marega’s imposing frame, his lack of pace was exposed on a few occasions, as the opposition’s attacks caught him off guard. Also, a very curious choice. 5

Read the full ratings here.

Full time!

City complete the victory after a close win against a Porto team determined to split the game as much as possible.

Sergio Agüero’s penalty nullified Luis Díaz’s first goal for the visitors, before a free kick by Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres’s shot ensured a good victory.

Fernandinho down

The midfielder has suffered an injury, apparently without any contact from a Porto player.

John Stones will replace him during the final seconds. This is not good news for City.

Fernandinho reserved

Fernandinho didn’t take long to get a warning, it was always going to happen with these officials.

Three minutes have been added.

Should I have expelled Pepe?

That penalty cry saw Pepe move his head, and then his knee, towards Sterling and somehow he only escaped with a yellow card.

If Sterling hadn’t caught Pepe’s leg, the defender would have made contact and he would have likely been sent off.

Meanwhile Rodri is out, Fernandinho is out.

Send!

Mahrez’s corner of the opportunity ended in Ederson, who then starts another attack with a precise pass.

Raheem Sterling is half-yelled for a penalty, but Rodri doesn’t notice it and shoots a long-range effort into the post.

Mahrez denied

City were ahead in numbers, there, with Riyad Mahrez firing and forcing the goalkeeper to make a save.

Another change from Porto

Evanilson replaces Sarr.

City are dealing much better now with Porto, who have to keep going, which gives City more room to maintain possession.

Triple change for visitors

Porto may have to try playing football to get back into this.

Sanusi, Corona and Vieira are out. Nakajima, Nanu and Taremi are on fire.

Watch Gundogan’s lovely free kick

Torres scores!

Ferran Torres plays a one-two with Phil Foden, advancing into the box from the left wing and cutting inside before hitting hard at the top of the net.

Referee having a surprise

The city’s greatest achievement in this game will be keeping 11 men on the field. Premier League refereeing has been in the limelight for good reason, but this is insane.

Garcia in the book

Eric Garcia has been booked, by the way, for a debatable foul just before the substitutions.

Then Rodri commits a clear tactical foul, and somehow the referee does not show the yellow. As expected, the Porto bank did not like that decision.

The game could open now

I was thinking it wasn’t a surprise to see a couple of players change the game for City, Torres and Foden, when Gundogan hit that free throw.

It’s no wonder that the goal came from a set piece, given that City have been too predictable so far, Porto have found them comfortable defensively, but now they have to attack and that could open the door for City.

Gundogan is replaced by Phil Foden. Ferran Torres replaces Agüero.

Two subs to come

Phil Foden and Ferran Torres will enter. They were preparing before Gundogan’s brilliant free kick.

Gundogan scores !!

It turns out that City don’t need David Silva!

Ilkay Gundogan takes a direct free kick on target. Leader of the city!

City free kick

Ilkay Gundogan is fouled at the edge of the box. Where is David Silva when you need him?

It’s time to think about Agüero

Sergio Agüero was eliminated against Arsenal at the hour mark, but I’d say they still need him here.

Ferran Torres and Phil Foden could come in to allow Raheem Sterling to lead the line, but you’d rather Aguero when scores are still level.

Dangerous Porto at halftime

Things have calmed down, but the sight of Marega diving close to the touch line may provoke something. Porto look dangerous at half-time but City feel they are in control of the game, they just need to start testing Marchesin more.

Porto substituted scorer

Luis Díaz, Porto’s top scorer, is replaced by Wilson Manafa.

Gundogan denied

Ilkay Gundogan takes aim and the goalkeeper saves well. Initially it looked like he could have hit the post from the camera angle, but in the end it was a good save.