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City remain undefeated in their 26th game in a row
Photo: Moritz Mueller / imago images / Moritz Müller
This wonderful, wonderful cross:
the hero of the game was for once not a goal scorer, but the flank giver.
Gladbach's Christoph Kramer had played a bad pass in the build-up and João Cancelo had enough time to hand over a half-field flank as if designed by an artist's hand or foot.
At the second post, Bernardo Silva, who is only 1.73 meters tall, didn't have to do much right anymore, it was enough that he no longer messed up this flank.
His header hit the far corner, the honor due assistant Cancelo.
The result:
Borussia Mönchengladbach lost the first leg in the Champions League round of 16 0: 2 (0: 1) against Manchester City.
Read the game report here.
The first half:
For almost half an hour, the Gladbachers fought hard to keep the aggressively whirling and many-legged attacking guests in check.
Then Silva met (29th minute).
Gladbach tried hard, but played every attack option as if it were the only one in the game - much too panicked.
A trace of fear:
City had only conceded one goal in this Champions League season so far, but coach Pep Guardiola had warned that Borussia »could reach the strikers quickly with a good switch game«.
In the 19th minute it was almost time.
Stefan Lainer found a pass on the right wing behind the defense and his pass to Alassane Pléa was only rendered harmless by City in dire need.
Then she crawled into the favorite's game for ten minutes, the fear of being outsmarted by an outsider again after Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 and Olympique Lyon in 2020.
The second half:
First Gabriel gave Jesus a huge chance (53rd), then he scored 2-0 (63rd).
Gladbach had his greatest opportunity in the last seconds of the three-minute stoppage time when Hannes Wolf failed to guest keeper Ederson (90 + 3).
City's German international Ilkay Gündogan showed a good performance and even wore the captain's armband from the 69th minute after the substitution of Raheem Sterling.
Debut without joys:
Actually, it should be festive days for the people of Gladbach.
For the first time the club is in the round of 16 of the Champions League, it is the first knockout duel for VfL in the premier class in almost 43 years.
Then comes the Premier League table leader - but because coach Marco Rose disappears to Dortmund, the team is staggering in the league and instead of having to play in a spectator-free Budapest arena instead of in front of your own fans, desolation is rampant.
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It doesn't really matter who is currently on the pitch at City.
In this case: Kyle Walker
Photo: Laszlo Balogh / AP
Seven decisive days:
Next Saturday, the Gladbach team will travel to Leipzig as eighth in the table, three days later Rose's future employer will be welcomed to the quarter-final game in the DFB Cup.
Sports director Max Eberl's oaths of loyalty to the current trainer urgently need to be backed up with positive results, otherwise the mood in Mönchengladbach will definitely be in a mess.
City marches:
victories, victories, victories.
Guardiola's team has brought 19 out of the last 19 games, and they have been unbeaten in 26 matches.
You are in the final of the Carabao Cup, have reached the quarter-finals in the FA Cup, and lead the league by ten points.
It is not to be expected that there will be unpleasant surprises in the second leg of the second leg against Gladbach in three weeks' time.
The Champions League title seems possible again for the most formidable team in the competition, they have never won the trophy.
So far, the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1970 remains the only European success for the Citizens.
The plump bank:
Not only the (squad) weaknesses of the competitors speak for a golden season, but also the deluxe squad of Manchester City.
Compared to the 1-0 win at Arsenal last weekend, Guardiola changed his starting line-up to five positions.
So, among others, John Stones, Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez got on the bench - you can afford it.
For the coming weekend, City's coach announced another half a dozen changes.
Colleague Hansi Flick is likely to get dizzy when looking at the selection of his opponent.
The advantage for Liverpool, Munich or Real Madrid: they all already have, they don't have to, with City the possibly crippling certainty remains in the back of the mind that they actually have to this year.
Icon: The mirror
