Guardiola suffers before late winner
MANCHESTER CITY’S Champions League campaign is finally 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 four minutes left, City were being held by 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 victory by plundering a late winner to give the Premier League champions the points.
Bernardo Silva curled the ball in and Silva nicked it off dithering defender Stefan Posch before steering home a clinical left-foot shot.
It was no more than City deserved for their dominance, as well as the injustice of failing to be given a penalty with 18 minutes left when Leroy Sane was blatantly brought down by Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann.
Carved
After City’s shock defeat at home to Lyon in their opening group game, Guardiola recognised the importance of winning here and picked a strong side with Sergio Aguero leading the attack.
Hoffenheim, making their Champions League debut this season, went into the game with just one win in their previous five matches in all competitions.
But the Champions League novices were not to be overawed and made the perfect start, scoring after just 44 seconds.
City were carved open as Ishak Belfodil ran through a yawning chasm in their defence and slotted the ball past Ederson.
Guardiola was immediately out of his seat in the dug-out to berate his side for such a sloppy start. But City produced a swift response and were back on level terms seven minutes later.
David Silva split the home defence with a sublime ball through to Sane. He in turn found Aguero, who converted from close range for his sixth goal of the season.
Raheem Sterling should have made it 2-1 when he embarked on a surging goal-bound formation in a bid to win the game, switching to a back three and bringing on central defender John Stones to play in midfield, as well as Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez.
City should have been awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute when Germany winger Sane took the ball past Baumann and was felled by the outstretched arms of the Hoffenheim keeper.
Guardiola was incensed, racing down the touchline to vent his anger and having to be hauled back by assistant boss Mikel Arteta.
But City secured the win their endeavour merited with the double Silva contribution in the closing stages, although a pumped up Guardiola could not resist berating the fourth official at the final whistle.
HOFFENHEIM (3-3-3-1): Baumann; Akpoguma, Hoogma, Posch; Kaderabek, Grillitsch (Bittencourt
82), Brenet; Szalai (Kramaric 54), Demirbay (Hack 85), Belfodil; Joelinton. Subs: Kobel, Nelson, Grifo, Amade.
MAN CITY (4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Otamendi (Stones 64), Laporte; Gundogan (B Silva
68), Fernandinho, D Silva; Sterling (Mahrez 75), Aguero, Sane. Subs: Muric; Danilo, Jesus, Zinchenko.
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia).