Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
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