Silva lining for City who take home the points

After being billed as a thriller since the group stage draw took place, this next edition of Nagelsmann vs Guardiola certainly did not disappoint. Within 45 seconds of the kick off, hosts Hoffenheim showed their skills, by taking an exceptionally early lead against the reigning Premier League Champions Manchester City.

A simple through ball forward down the channel, and a cut back left striker Ishak Belfodil the easy task of slotting the ball under the advancing Ederson, to mark the hosts first ever home goal in the competition.

After slumping to a shock defeat last time out to Olympique Lyonnais, this early setback would prove to be another European test for Manchester City, one which they would pass with flying colours.

City assumed control of possession in the middle of the pitch, and after dampening the early energy of the hosts, set about attaining an all important equaliser in this contest.

Sure enough, City drew themselves level within six minutes. A slick passing move led to David Silva setting Sané free down the left hand channel, who cut back for Sergio Aguero to slide the ball home.  A goal apiece and not even ten minutes on the clock. This game was shaping up to be a cracker.

The equalising goal only saw Manchester City grow in confidence; they took a stranglehold on the game, dominating the play and creating the more clear cut openings of the two sides.

First, Raheem sterling broke away down the City right hand side, breaking into the hosts’ penalty area, before forcing an excellent save from Oliver Baumann in the Hoffenheim net.  

Multiple City chances followed, chiefly in the form of three efforts from striker Sergio Aguero, who was keen to add to his leveller from earlier in the match. The Argentine thrice tried to beat Baumann in the host's goal; but a curling long-range effort, a volley over the bar, and a long range blast just shy of the upright later, and Aguero still only had the one goal to his name.

The first half action came to a frantic end, with both teams launching counter attack after counter attack, in the hope of catching one another off guard. The interval arrived, and despite the flurry of attacking play, no more goals were added to the scoreline.

The second half of this encounter began in identical fashion to the first. Hoffenheim had clearly received a stern team talk at halftime from Julian Nagelsmann, and as such they darted out of the traps early on, nearly capitalising from City sluggishness for the seconds time in the match. Unfortunately for the home supporters, City stopper Ederson was far more alert than his defensive counterparts, and managed to parry a low cross out of play on the far side of the pitch.

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Aside from the slight blip in defence, City had picked up where they had left off before half time, and looked very menacing. The ‘Blues’ once again commanded the lion’s share of possession; passing and probing the Hoffenheim defence, who were content to sit on the edge of their own penalty area, and anticipate City errors in order to get forward themselves. The remainder of the match was to follow in this pattern.

 

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The contest entered into the final ten minutes in stalemate, as it looked like Hoffenheim’s blockade had successfully managed to keep City's slick passing play at bay.

An ever threatening figure, Leroy Sané again came close to recording a magnificent assist, but his mazey run and low cross somehow managed to avoid all of the City attackers in the box.

Into the last five minutes and still no breakthrough, but it was not for the want of trying, as both City’s players and manager Pep Guardiola, had thrown everything at the Hoffenheim defensive line.

David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sané will forever haunt the dreams of the hosts defence, after stellar individual performances throughout this contest.

And finally, as the match looked to be heading for a draw, it was one of these stand-out performers that would grant the visitors their first three points of this year’s group stage.A dagger to the heart of the most-part-resilient Hoffenheim rearguard.

Baumann and his brigade were unable to deal with the umteenth low cross into their penalty area, and the ball fell to an on-rushing David Silva. The diminutive Spaniard nicked the ball off the toe of central defender Akpoguma, and fired a low drive past the outstretched goalkeeper. Finally City had the lead that their dominance had deserved.

 

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A late flurry from Hoffenheim followed, as they looked to grab an unlikely last minute draw. They built up a reasonable head of steam, but barely looked like troubling Ederson in the City goal, who comfortably caught a succession of long range efforts and inswinging corner balls.  

City even had the chance to seal the three points on the counter. Ederson launching a familiar 60 yard pass to Aguero, who rounded the hosts’ keeper Baumann. But after being forced to the left touchline, chipped his effort far wide of the post.

 

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Overall, this much anticipated fixture produced a rather routine result on paper, but this does not tell the whole transfixing tale. Under the tutelage of young coach Julian Nagelsmann, Hoffenheim were incredibly brave from the outset, even taking a shock early lead.

However it was the master, Pep Guardiola, who with his amazingly talented squad, out-thought and outmanoeuvred his hosts to take home all three points. City seemed to have lost Ilkay Gundogan to a second half hamstring issue, which will be a concern with a heavy fixture schedule looming large.

But in the end, their performance did contain a Silva-lining, as their diminutive Spanish playmaker scored the all important goal to kickstart the ‘Mancunians’ Champions League campaign.