The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Guardiola’s side win Group F but United miss chance to overtake Juve in Group H
MANCHESTER CITY 2 HOFFENHEIM 1
Leroy Sane struck twice as Manchester City came from behind to secure top spot in Champions League Group F.
Sane cancelled out former Leicester striker Andrej Kramaric’s early penalty with a stunning free-kick just before half-time and grabbed his second on the hour.
City also hit the woodwork twice as they created numerous chances after making a sluggish start.
Pep Guardiola’s side, who gave valuable experience to 18-year-old Phil Foden, dominated the second half and Sane could have had a hat-trick had he not passed up another shooting chance.
It was an impressive performance from the German – left out of his country’s World Cup squad last summer – against a team from his homeland.
City, who were without a batch of star players through injury, initially looked like they were suffering a hangover from their weekend defeat at Chelsea and took time to find their usual verve.
Hoffenheim were more positive early and Kramaric shot over before Ederson made a fine save to deny him.
The visitors claimed the advantage in the 16th minute after Aymeric Laporte bundled over Benjamin Hubner. Kramaric comfortably tucked home from the spot.
City upped the tempo in response and, although they lacked fluency, proved a threat from set-pieces.
Gabriel Jesus, back up front in the continued absence of Sergio Aguero, hit the post with a thumping header from a corner and John Stones rose to meet a free-kick and force Baumann to save.
Nicolas Otamendi also hit the woodwork with a glancing header from a Gundogan free-kick.
The leveller came on the stroke of half-time after City were awarded a freekick around 25 yards out. With no obvious specialists from that range on the field, Sane took responsibility and curled a fine effort into the top corner.
Laporte drew a double save from Baumann following a corner early in the second half and the keeper somehow survived a three-on-one break when he blocked a Bernardo Silva effort.
Baumann also denied Jesus after the Brazilian was played in by a Sterling backheel but the keeper could do nothing after another quick counterattack on the hour. Sane combined beautifully with Sterling and this time made no mistake as he slid a shot under Baumann.
Foden saw a powerful left-foot volley tipped over by Baumann before Raheem Sterling shot wide from close range.
VALENCIA 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
United missed the chance to top Group H as Jose Mourinho’s muchchanged side slumped to defeat in Valencia.
Progress to the last 16 was already assured ahead of the trip to the Mestalla, but it was a chance for Paul Pogba and Co to prove their worth and secure a win that would see them top the group in the unlikely event that Juventus slipped up in Switzerland.
The improbable played out 650 miles away as Young Boys secured a remarkable 2-1 win against the Serie A giants but United failed to capitalise as they lost by the same scoreline in Spain, with Marcus Rashford grabbing a late consolation after Carlos Soler struck and Phil Jones turned into his own goal.
It was a largely lifeless, incoherent display from Mourinho’s men and awful preparation for Sunday’s trip to Premier League-leading rivals Liverpool.
Soler, once a reported United target, put Valencia ahead 17 minutes into a first half that saw Pogba – back after two games on the bench – somehow miss a gilt-edged chance, unaware that offside had been wrongly signalled.
Any hope of a comeback disappeared seconds into the second half as Jones turned into his own net on a night that heaps unwanted scrutiny on United ahead of the trip to Anfield, despite Rashford leading a late push.
Elsewhere, CSKA Moscow floored Spanish giants Real Madrid 3-0 at the Bernabeu with a dominant display.
Real had already qualified for the last16 as Pool G winners, but that should not mask a poor performance, even if it was by a much-changed team.
But despite CSKA’s victory, they could not secure third place in the group and Europa League qualification after Viktoria Plzen took that spot by beating Roma 2-1.
In Group E, Ajax and Bayern Munich shared a 3-3 draw at the Amsterdam Arena, both teams finishing with 10 men as the Germans secured top spot.
Maximilian Wober and Thomas Muller had both been red-carded before Dusan Tadic’s 82nd-minute penalty gave Ajax a 2-1 advantage but Bayern then led 3-2 before a late own goal meant the points were shared. Qualifiers for last 16:
Group winners: Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, PSG, Porto, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Juventus.
Runners-up: Atletico Madrid, Tottenham, Liverpool, Schalke, Ajax, Lyon, Roma, Manchester United.