Manchester City: Lessons from Naples

NAPLES, ITALY - NOVEMBER 01: Kevin De Bruyne (L) and Fernandinho of Manchester City celebrate after the UEFA Champions League group F match between SSC Napoli and Manchester City at Stadio San Paolo on November 1, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - NOVEMBER 01: Kevin De Bruyne (L) and Fernandinho of Manchester City celebrate after the UEFA Champions League group F match between SSC Napoli and Manchester City at Stadio San Paolo on November 1, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) /
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Winning From A Losing Position:

NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 01: Lorenzo Insigne of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring 1-0 goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between SSC Napoli and Manchester City at Stadio San Paolo on November 1, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 01: Lorenzo Insigne of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring 1-0 goal during the UEFA Champions League group F match between SSC Napoli and Manchester City at Stadio San Paolo on November 1, 2017 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) /

Manchester City had spent barely 45 minutes behind in all their games so far this season. They have dominated most of the sides they’ve played and so, as a result, we haven’t had too many chances to see how they’d react when going behind.

Away to Napoli, a side topping Serie A, and a place no English side has gone and won, would be the perfect chance.

Both sides pressed high and when Napoli went ahead through Insigne, after 21 minutes, it didn’t look good.

In fact, at one point, it was a case of just trying to get to half-time with minimal damage, such was the threat.

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A fantastic header from Otamendi put City level, and swung the pendulum in our favor. Now, it was Napoli who needed the whistle to blow.

The second half started with another central defender strike. Awarded via goal-line technology, City took the lead. Even when Napoli drew level via a penalty you never really had the thought that City were done and, when Aguero scored, the San Paolo fell silent.

That is not to say Napoli were not still a threat. In fact they pressured late on to let City know they were still in a game. Only when Sterling scored did I breathe a sigh of relief.