Silva service gets City off mark against Hoffenheim

David Silva struck a late winner as Manchester City finally got their Champions League campaign up and running with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Hoffenheim.

After defeat by Lyon a fortnight ago, it had looked like being another frustrating night for City in Group F until Silva, pictured, pounced on a defensive mistake three minutes from time.

Pep Guardiola’s side had got off to a dreadful start, conceding after just 44 seconds when Ishak Belfodil opened the scoring, but Sergio Aguero quickly equalised.

Leroy Sane was controversially denied a penalty in the second half but City otherwise found the going tough against the determined Germans.

City, with Aymeric Laporte at left-back, were rocked in the first minute. Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany both seemed unsure of their positioning as Belfodil raced onto a brilliant through-ball from Florian Demirbay and lashed home.

City looked ragged but responded quickly as Silva released Sane. The German, perhaps with a point to prove in his home country after recent criticism, pulled back for Aguero and the striker, fit after a foot injury, made no mistake.

City also made an uncertain start to the second half as Florian Grillitsch’s long-range effort flew just over and they survived another scare when Ederson missed a header attempting to clear a long ball from Oliver Baumann. Sane got back to prevent Andrej Kramaric shooting into an empty goal.

City felt they should have had a penalty 18 minutes from time when Sane appeared to be caught by Baumann after Bernardo Silva opened Hoffenheim up but, much to their frustration, nothing was given.

Time began to run out for the visitors but David Silva lifted their spirits by smashing home after Stefan Posch failed to clear Bernardo Silva’s cross.