Atalanta 1 Manchester City 1

I have a confession to make about this Manchester City game against Atalanta in the Champions League.

This is the first Manchester City game I can remember this season which has felt so jeopardy free. That is not to say the result did not matter, because it did, but if there was a single free hit we could take this season then this was it.

So I approached the game in an unusally relaxed manner, with my customary outer coating of anxiety strangely absent. I should make clear it is not because I expected the game to be a walk in the park because that was not the case. In fact I feared Atalanta are exactly the kind of pacey and direct team who could cause us problems.

City though blistered into life from the kick off, hogging the ball and refusing to be bullied. It was no surprise City took the lead in the 7th minute, thanks to a lovely goal by Raheem Sterling after a beautiful flick by Gabriel Jesus.

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There were plenty of chances to add to our goal tally and at least one of them was truly gilt edged. City were awarded a penalty after a strange passage of play. Sterling was pulled back but after a VAR check the referee gave a free kick on the edge of the box, which Jesus took and struck at the arm of an Atalanta player.

This time a penalty was awarded but Jesus missed it, hitting the ball wide. That was the kind of miss which can come back and haunt a team.

The second half started with an ominous sign. Ederson was substituted through injury and Bravo came on. His first real taste of the ball was picking up the ball from the back of the net after Atalanta equalised.

The goal came from a fairly routine cross which was simply not marked. Suddenly City were on the backfoot in a game where they should have been out of sight.

The predicament felt self inflicted and City seemed to shrink back into being the side undone by Norwich. Every loose ball fell to the Italians and our players looked exposed.

We needed to calm the game and exert some control. So City sent on Sergio Aguero for the misfiring Jesus. Whilst their efforts were more concerted, there was a troubling lack of composure on the ball, which was to prove costly.

The game became more difficult when Bravo was sent off. He was sold short after a stupid pass by Ilkay Gundogan and Bravo had no choice but to rush out of his area. He made minimal contact if any, but as we all know any contact is enough.

The sight of Kyle Walker coming on in goal to immediately face a free kick threatened to descend the game towards farce. You have to smile sometimes and this was one of those moments of UEFA madness.

City then kept the ball for the rest of the match and a peculiar game drew to a close. Our game management was amusing as we kept the ball on the touchline to see the minutes wind down. Hitting the ball repeatedly off the Atalanta players for a series of throw ins and goal kicks.

In terms of morale, this draw may feel like a victory given it was achieved with 10 men and Walker in goal.

But there were still lingering concerns. Gundogan was careless in possession and City were in trouble through failing yet again to take their chances. We have to hope the injury to Ederson is not too serious because the games are coming thick and fast.

In years to come the sight of Walker in Bravo’s jersey will be a quiz question. The City fans at the San Siro were in good voice – “England’s Number One” they sang to Walker. Walker may hope Southgate was actually watching.

One more point is all that is needed to ensure progression and City will need to be sharper to take that from Shakhtar rather than having to rely upon a result away at Zagreb.