Manchester City 2-1 Hoffenheim: 5 Talking Points

Manchester City confirmed their status as winners of Group F after an entertaining 2-1 victory over their German rivals, Hoffenheim.

Hoffenheim raced off the blocks and quickly put City under pressure with their attacking prowess. They deservedly went ahead went Laporte clumsily conceded a penalty. Kramaric stepped up and made no mistake from the spot.

City roared back immediately with constant attacking forays and were eventually rewarded with a goal on the stroke of halftime. Leroy Sane curled in a wonderful free-kick to draw parity.

The home team continued their domination in the second half with the winning goal coming in the 61st minute, courtesy Sane. While the win ensured top spot for City, the defeat consigned Hoffenheim to fourth spot in the group.

Here is a look at five talking points from the game:

#5 City and Hoffenheim serve up a thrilling display of attacking football

Hoffenheim were brave and took the game to City

Most teams would come to the Etihad and sit deep, hence, allowing City to dictate the tempo of the game. However, Nagelsmann ensured that his side came to the home of the English champions looking to make a mark with their bravery. And boy, didn’t they put on a show.

With Hoffenheim looking to take the game to City, the match opened up considerably and was enthralling throughout. Both teams displayed their inclination to play on the front foot, thus resulting in an end to end battle.

The away side’s front two of Joelinton and Kramaric caused problems for the City defence, with the former’s direct running troubling their back-line in particular. Additionally, Hoffenheim’s midfielders weren’t afraid to support their attackers with the likes Bittencourt and Schulz proving a constant menace on the left flank.

While the away side’s adventure took everyone by surprise, City flexing their offensive muscles was anything but that. Ever since Guardiola took over, City have played an expansive brand of football at home and it was no different against Hoffenheim.

The combination of the German team’s attacking intent and City’s usual home dominance resulted in such an exhilarating match coming to fruition.

With not much riding on the game, both teams produced an absolute spectacle for the neutrals and had it not been for the crazy 3-3 draw between Ajax and Bayern, it could easily have been the most thrilling encounter of the 6th Match-day.

#4 Jesus’ goal-drought continues

Gabriel Jesus was dropped for the clash against Chelsea at the weekend and thus, had a point to prove in the Champions League. Though the Brazilian turned in an impressive performance, his goal drought stretched to five games.

On Wednesday night, Jesus was busy for the entirety of the game and looked to make a difference with his movement. On numerous occasions, his off the ball running helped create space for the likes of Sterling and Sane to prosper.

While his link-up play was much better than in previous weeks, his lack of goals would surely be a cause of concern for Guardiola. Aguero is currently out injured but he is expected to be back in the reckoning by the weekend. Yet, given the Argentine’s poor injury record, Guardiola needs Jesus to be firing on all cylinders if City is to continue challenging on all fronts.

After making a scintillating start to his City career, Jesus has slowed down. Though his long-term injury at the start of the year might have played a part, he needs to be back to his best very quickly.

And even though the elusive goal didn’t come on Wednesday, there were promising signs indicating that it isn’t too far away.

#3 Leroy Sane is making himself un-droppable

After a sensational 2017-18 season, Sane endured a tough couple of months. To start off, he couldn’t find a place in Germany’s World Cup squad and then his attitude was questioned by Guardiola at the start of the season. With the German lacking confidence, he was on the periphery in the initial months. However, over the last couple of months, Sane has looked even better than his superlative form of 2017-18.

Against Hoffenheim, Sane popped up with both goals for City. His first was an exquisite free-kick while he finished off a flowing move to notch his second.

At times, the German was unplayable. He constantly put the away team’s defence under pressure with his mazy dribbling and close control. Moreover, his acceleration and speed were a real asset on the counter attack.

With Aguero’s return on the horizon, Guardiola will have a decision to make very soon, with regards to his starting eleven. However, if Sane keeps performing as he did on Wednesday night, it would be impossible to leave him out.

At the start of the campaign, Sane looked an expendable commodity who could be benched for better options. Yet, as the season has progressed, the German has reminded the whole world what he is capable of.

To put it very plainly: Sane has made sure that he is un-droppable at the moment.

#2 Phil Foden relishes his big opportunity

After a spate of injuries gripped Manchester City, Phil Foden was accorded the opportunity to start against Hoffenheim. The teenager recently put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal and celebrated his new contract with a virtuoso display.

The Englishman started in midfield alongside Gundogan and Bernardo Silva. Despite being thrown into the deep end, Foden emerged with flying colours. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to say that he even outshone his more illustrious teammates on the night.

Foden looked composed whenever he was on the ball and chose the right option more often than not. Blessed with the ability to get away from a defender’s clutches with a drop of the shoulder, he twisted and turned superbly to leave the Hoffenheim midfielders in his wake.

Though chances might be hard to come by once the likes of David Silva, Fernandinho and De Bruyne return, the Englishman did his case no harm with a sublime display.

After inspiring England to the U-17 World Cup last year, the whole nation was raving about him and on the weight of tonight’s display, it is easy to see why. Foden has always been looked upon as a player for tomorrow yet, if he keeps conjuring similar performances, he could well transform into one of City’s key players today.

Thus, it’s fair to say that the Englishman took his chance rather well against Hoffenheim.

#1 City get the win but short of their best

Guardiola still needs to iron out a few flaws

City edged out Hoffenheim by the odd goal in three at the Etihad on Wednesday night. The home side deserved the win after creating several chances in the second half. However, those watching the game felt that City had another unused gear to their play.

Guardiola’s men were uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal. Sane, Sterling and Bernardo Silva were all guilty of missing gilt-edged chances. On one occasion, the aforementioned trio found the penalty box to themselves yet contrived to not convert their opportunity. Through the course of this campaign, City have been anything but profligate in front of goal. With the knock-out stages being their next European assignment, the City faithful would hope that they can rediscover their shooting boots quickly.

While their wastefulness is bound to create a furrowed brow or two, it was their susceptibility to the counter attack that raised many more eyebrows.

With Fernandinho not on the pitch, City looked hopelessly exposed on the break. On a number of occasions, Hoffenheim players swarmed forward without any resistance from the City midfield. The German side couldn’t punish City but as the Round of 16 approaches, the latter surely need to seek a remedy.

Games in the knock-out phases are often decided by small margins. Today, City just had too much in the tank for Hoffenheim but they might not be so lucky against the likes of Juventus, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona.

Though they emerged from a tricky group as toppers, there is still a bit of work Pep needs to do to create his Champions League winning team.

Edited by Kishan Prasad