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Manchester City Beat Schalke Thanks To A Late Raheem Sterling Winner

By David Crook

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Road to Madrid branding is seen ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Road to Madrid branding is seen ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Sometimes there are matches which come to define a season, where not just the result but the manner of the victory can set a team on a path towards glory.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: Road to Madrid branding is seen ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: Road to Madrid branding is seen ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Manchester City have many different ways of winning games of football. Recently they have mastered the fine art of obliterating the opposition in an onslaught but against Schalke, City returned to a way which set them on a path to greatness last season – the late winner. Last year the momentum City gained from a last minute winner like against Southampton at home, galvanised the side into that unbeaten run. Can this Sterling winner against Schalke do the same?

We all knew in advance what kind of game this was likely to be. City were to be most at risk from set pieces and Schalke would set up defensively, looking to catch City on the break. The opening exchanges did not disappoint. City moved into a position of control and to all intents and purposes it was just a matter of waiting for the goal to come.

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A careless piece of defensive play by Schalke saw David Silva rob the ball on the  edge of the area, he made two strides and squared the ball for an unmarked Sergio Aguero to smash home. After the goal City seemed to drop down the gears and in doing so they let Schalke back into this game by gifting them two goals in quick succession.

We could all see the goals were coming. City were sloppy in midfield. Careless, underhit passes gave away possession and put our own players under pressure. Nicolas Otamendi gave away the first by conceding a penalty with a handball. He had limited time to move his hand out of the way of the ball and the incident was not deliberate but nevertheless the shot was diverted wide and a penalty looked to be the correct decision.

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