Manchester City: Lessons from Champions League matchday 3.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City scores the second City goal past Pepe Reina during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at Etihad Stadium on October 17, 2017 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City scores the second City goal past Pepe Reina during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at Etihad Stadium on October 17, 2017 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next

Battle Of Styles

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 17: Kyle Walker of Manchester City and Faouzi Ghoulam of SSC Napoli battle for possession during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at Etihad Stadium on October 17, 2017 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 17: Kyle Walker of Manchester City and Faouzi Ghoulam of SSC Napoli battle for possession during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at Etihad Stadium on October 17, 2017 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /

When sides have come to City recently, it’s been a case of being tight at the back and trying to break on occasion. In Napoli we found ourselves facing an Italian version of Pep’s Manchester City.

They came at City from the off and pushed until the final whistle. Yes they went 2-0 down within the first fifteen minutes but kept with their game plan. In the end, they may have been unlucky not to come away with a point.

That said, had City converted one or both of those chances from DeBruyne (crossbar) or Jesus (off the line) it could have been 4-0 after half an hour.

In the end we were unlucky, and they missed a penalty. I think, on the balance of play, it was a good victory. Hard fought yes, but Pep will learn from what he saw tonight.