HOFF & City needed a Silva bullet to beat Germans

THEY left it late, very late, but Manchester City’s Champions League campaign is up and running.

Pep Guardiola said his players may need to “suffer” in the group stage in order to fulfil their potential in the knockout stage, and that was never more evident than here. With three minutes left, City were being held by tournament debutants Hoffenheim and staring at the prospect of a solitary point after two games in arguably the easiest group in the competition. But David Silva, City’s outstanding performer as he has been on so many occasions, sealed the win by plundering a winner.

Bernardo Silva curled the ball in and Silva got to it ahead of dithering defender Stefan Posch, before steering a clinical left-foot finish into the corner.

It was no more than City deserved for their dominance, as well as the injustice of failing to be awarded a clear penalty with 18 minutes left when Leroy Sane was brought down by Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann. After City’s shock defeat at home to Lyon, Guardiola recognised the importance of winning here, despite the significance of Sunday’s trip to Liverpool, as star striker Sergio Aguero led the attack despite concerns over a foot injury.

And with one victory from nine European games, Hoffenheim went into the clash as huge underdogs. But they made the perfect start, scoring after just 44 seconds.

City’s defence was carved open as Ishak Belfodil ran through a yawning chasm in their defence and slotted the ball coolly past Ederson.

Guardiola was immediately out of his seat in the dug-out to

MANCHESTER CITY’S Sergio Aguero became just the second player to score in five consecutive away Champions League appearances for an English team after Ruud van Nistelrooy for Man Utd in 2003.MAN CITY forwardSergio Aguero has scored more Champions League goals vsGerman teams than against any other nation in the competition (8 goals).HOFFENHEIM’S Ishak Belfodil netted after 43 seconds; the quickest goal scored against an English team in the Champions League since Stephan El Shaarawy vs Chelsea in October 2017 (39 seconds). It was also the quickest goal Man City have conceded in the competition.FIVE of David Silva’s six Champions League goals for Manchester City have come against German opposition.CITY are unbeaten in their last six Champions League games against German opponents (W5 D1).HOFFENHEIM have won just one of their previous 10 matches in European competition (D3 L6).

1 England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford started his professional career at which club? 2 Who is the captain of the England women’s cricket team? 3 At which event did Rory Mcilroy win his first major golf championship? 4 Twins Kristyna and Karolina Pliskova play which sport? 5 Who was named rugby league’s Man of Steel in 2017? HUG LIFEDavid Silva is mobbed after his goal sealed the vital victory