Manchester City undo unyielding Ukrainians

Matchday Two in the Champions League for Manchester City is in no danger of being a classic. The free-flowing attack of City in the first half was almost non existent, and the game somewhat frustrating.

In my preview article looking at the match I did predict the lineup Pep would use. Other than Delph in at left back it was pretty much as expected.

The selection of Delph does make sense with Danilo maybe being thought of for a Chelsea start. You know it is not going entirely your way when David Silva is guilty of mis-controlling balls. Six minutes in and that’s exactly what he did, although it was fizzed at him by Gabby Jesus.

Ten minutes in and it would be the visitors on the front foot. An extended time in the City half is not something we’ve seen too much this season, particularly not while at home. City, by contrast, seemed out of sorts.

Slow buildup play allowed Donetsk to get their defensive shape and repel any attack. Half-time arrived with the scores level, despite Leroy Sane going close late on.

There were no changes for either side as the second half started. You always felt that once City did score that first goal the rest would follow, and three minutes after the restart DeBruyne scored.

More from Man City Square

Silva found the Belgium playmaker who opened up his body to curl his shot top corner. From outside of the box the Shakhtar goalkeeper stood no chance. Pyatov had been, and would be, immense for his side throughout the game, but there was nothing he could do about that shot.

Gabriel Jesus would come off a few minutes later for Raheem Sterling. It didn’t look as if it was because of an injury but purely tactical. The pace down the wing he added did seem to give City that little but extra, stretching the play.

Two minutes later Sergio Aguero found space and Silva found him, with a no look pass over the top. Aguero hit it straight at the keeper, when scoring looked easier. He wasn’t the only City player to miss great opportunities, Raheem missed a sitter with twenty minutes remaining.

Ordets was then guilty of brining down Sane in the area. He should have been called for a foul on Sane only moments before, but escaped that one. Aguero stepped up to the spot, and again Pyatov saved, keeping his side in it.

Gundogan came on for David Silva in the 81st minute with Bernardo replacing Aguero minutes later. From then, City looked refreshed in the middle of the park. Sane was guilty of being selfish late on, and that pretty much summed up the whole game. With players spare across from him, he chose to shoot when surrounded by three defenders and a goalkeeper.

Into the last few minutes City were nervous. The fans had seen this before and Pep had seen this before. I, like them, have seen City dominate games before allowing sides to nick a late goal toward the end. This game had that ending written all over, considering all the chances we’d already wasted.

Next: Benjamin Mendy heads to Barcelona for scan

Then came a breakaway for City. Bernardo drove down the right wing and toward the box, before passing over to Raheem Sterling. The Englishman made no mistake, putting the ball in the roof of the net. The relief was palpable and even Benjamin Mendy threw down his crutches, just behind the touch-line (not really, but you wouldn’t doubt it).

It shouldn’t have been that nervous for City, but these are the games that show champions. To not play to your usual standard, to be off the pace like we were, but to still get the win is all the record books will show.