Manchester City 0 Bayer Leverkusen 2: Manchester City’s fringe players fail to make an impact | OneFootball

Manchester City 0

Bayer Leverkusen 2 (Alejandro Grimaldo 23′, Patrik Shick 54′)

Manchester City have fallen to their first defeat in this season’s UEFA Champions League with a 2-nil defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium tonight. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Parick Schick were enough for Leverkusen to condemn City to a disappointing defeat.

When the starting lineups were announced Pep Guardiola had made ten changes to the lineup that was beaten by Newcastle. Nico was the only player to retain his place in the City starting eleven from that match. Tonight’s match was an opportunity for City’s fringe players to impress and they had to take it to boost their own confidence and to show Pep Guardiola that they are ready for more minutes as the fixture list ramps up in the coming weeks. Come the final whistle City’s fringe players had put in a disjointed display against a well-managed and quality opponent.

First half

Manchester City made a bright start to the match and almost took the lead in the 5th minute. After a corner City recycled the ball and Oscar Bobb picked out Nathan Ake on the edge of the Leverkusen six-yard box and the Dutch international fired in a snap shot at goal. Mark Flekken made a smart save to push the ball behind for a corner to prevent City from taking an early lead.

Across the first 10 minutes, it was clear that City’s fringe players were eager to impress. In the 11th minute, a desperate block from Rayan Ait-Nouri prevented a stinging Ernest Poku shot from the right-hand side of City’s area from testing James Trafford. It was an early warning from Leverkusen that they weren’t going to roll over for Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad.

From the 10th to the 20th minute the game remained open but neither side created any significant chances. Manchester City’s press did create an opening in the 17th minute but City’s attacking players tried to do too much and the move broke down. As the move broke down it sparked a Bayer Leverkusen counterattack. Ernest Poku got himself into a dangerous position in the City area but a strong Rayan Ait-Nouri challenge once again denied Poku.

Bayer Leverkusen take the lead as they expose Manchester City’s left-hand side.

Kasper Hjulmand’s side would take the lead in the 23rd minute. The visitors played themselves out from the back and they found acres of space in midfield. The ball was worked out to the right to Christian Kofane who dinked in a quality ball into the City area. The ball fell to Leverkusen left-back Alejandro Grimaldo who showed great technique to beat James Trafford with an exquisite left-footed strike from inside City’s area to give Leverkusen the lead. The move came as Kofane was found in space on the left-hand side as he got in behind Rayan Ait-Nouri at left-back who couldn’t get back to stop Kofane from playing in the cross.

Following Leverkusen’s goal the hosts grew in confidence. They were having success playing through Manchester City’s press which was giving them space to counter. Pep Guardiola’s side was struggling to create any real openings against a packed Leverkusen defence. The best chances for City came when Savinho could beat his Ernest Poku out wide on the left but City were struggling to break down Kasper Hjulmand’s side.

Oscar Bobb would force Mark Flekken into a save in the 43rd minute. A spell of City pressure saw Bobb receive the ball on the right. Bobb drove past two Leverkusen defenders and played a ball across the Leverkusen six-yard box. His cross took a deflection and Flekken stuck out a leg to keep the ball from finding a City player for a tap-in.

Tijjani Reijnders spurns Manchester City’s best chance of the first half.

Tijjani Reijnders would waste Manchester City’s best chance of the first half a minute. Bayer Leverkusen gave the ball away in a dangerous area when playing out from the back. Reijnders drove into the box and hit a stinging shot straight at Mark Flekken who punched the ball away. Reijnders should have scored and he is a player who desperately needs a goal for his confidence.

Tijjani Reijnders shot would be the last significant moment of the first half. Manchester City had put in a disjointed performance up until halftime. Bayer Leverkusen had spells of possession and their ability to play through City’s press and counter was causing Pep Guardiola’s side issues. It led to Alejandro Grimaldo’s goal and City had work to do to turn the match around at halftime.

Second half

Pep Guardiola made three substitutions at halftime. Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly replaced Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Ait-Nouri as Guardiola recognised City’s need for more attacking impetus and threat.

Despite the changes Pep Guardiola made, Bayer Leverkusen would double their lead in the 54th minute. Patrik Schick would head Leverkusen into a two goal lead after he got on the end of an Ibrahim Maza cross. It was a typical number-nine finish from Schick. Shick had been anonymous until that moment but he showed his quality with a sublime finish to beat James Trafford.

Savinho would fire a volley wide in the 56th minute as Pep Guardiola summoned Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki to try and find a goal for his team. Bayer Leverkusen were posing a constant threat on the break and were defending resolutely and were good value for their lead.

The introduction of Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki did give City a more prominent attacking threat. In the 69th minute Mark Flekken would deny Erling Haaland with a superb save as Haaland looked be around the Leverkusen keeper. Flekken was in sublime form and it seemed no matter what City did, they couldn’t beat the Leverkusen goalkeeper.

In the final 20 minutes Manchester City would see a host of chances blocked and squandered. But it wasn’t sustained dominance from Pep Guardiola’s side. Bayer Leverkusen defended well and resolutely and thoroughly deserved their 2-nil victory when the final whistle blew.

First thoughts at the final whistle.

Pep Guardiola used tonight’s match to give Manchester City’s fringe players minutes they desperately needed. Unfortunately, that move backfired. Manchester City ran into a determined and well-managed Bayer Leverkusen side. The visitors were set up superbly tactically and they exploited Manchester City’s weaknesses to run out 2-nil winners. For City, the game showed their major deficiency when Erling Haaland doesn’t start. They lack a consistent goal scorer and aren’t the same team without their number-nine.

Manchester City’s fringe players failed to take their opportunity and City’s performance does leave question marks as to how strong this City squad is and how they can conjure up goals when Haaland isn’t in the starting lineup.