David Silva proves decisive: the winners and losers from Hoffenheim 1-2 Man City

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Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City breathed a huge sigh of relief in Germany on Tuesday evening after a narrow 2-1 victory over Hoffenheim.

A shock 2-1 loss to Lyon in City’s Champions League opener made this victory all the more important.

Julian Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim side were impressive throughout and took the lead within a minute of kick-off. City dominated for large periods, but Hoffenheim took the game to City, just as their manager said they would.

Sergio Aguero was lively all night and equalised in the first half. Referee Damir Skomina’s baffling decision to not award City a penalty in the second half nearly cost the away side two valuable points, but David Silva secured an important win for Pep Guardiola’s side with an 87th minute strike.

Here are our winners and losers from a much needed win for City.

Winner: David Silva

A joy to watch. All of City’s play went through Silva on Tuesday night. His decision making in the final third was sublime, especially in the first half.

The Spaniard is quite simply the dream player for the likes of Aguero, Sterling and Sane to have behind them. He looked a class above everyone else on the pitch at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

He then stepped up and made sure City went away with all three points. Of course, Stefan Posch’s error played a big part in that, but Silva was in the right place at the right time and it was no easy finish.

A fit and firing David Silva is so, so important for City. That midfield trio of Fernandinho, Silva and Kevin De Bruyne should soon be reunited, with the latter now back in full training following his injury.

Loser: Ilkay Gundogan

Not a good night for the German. His performance in the early stages of the first half left a lot to be desired. He improved as the half went on but was then withdrawn with what looked like a hamstring injury in the second period.

The former Dortmund man looked way off the pace early on. It probably didn’t help that he had David Silva next to him, but he’ll feel that he can do a lot more.

Gunodgan is unlikely to be involved in City’s top of the table clash against Liverpool this Sunday. Could Kevin De Bruyne be needed sooner than he might have thought?

Winner: VAR

Oh dear, Damir Skomina. Before Tuesday’s game, every City match that the Slovenian referee had taken charge of had ended in a City defeat and his decision (or lack of) to not award the away side a penalty in the second half did not help their chances of bringing that record to an end.

Midway through the second half, Leroy Sane raced through on goal and was brought down by Oliver Baumann. Certain penalty, right? Not according to Skomina.

Bizarrely, the referee didn’t seem to decide on anything. He trotted towards both Sane and Baumann and looked as if he didn’t really know what to do. Replays showed that it was indeed a stonewall penalty.

It’s a good job City went on to win this game. Guardiola would have been far from happy if it had stayed all square.

VAR is being introduced to next seasons Champions League and this was another decision that left us wondering why it hasn’t been used this year.

Loser: Gabriel Jesus

Sergio Aguero is one hungry striker this season. Leroy Sane did most of the hard work for Aguero’s equaliser, but after that, the City forward was desperate to add to his tally again. His goal tonight meant he’s scored in five consecutive Champions League away games for City and he doesn’t look like a player who wants that record to stop.

How must Gabriel Jesus be feeling right now? A lot may have thought that this would be the season where Jesus was slowly eased into the role as City’s first-choice striker. Not if Sergio Aguero has anything to say about it. He looked like a man obsessed with doing everything in his power to score goals. If City can do that then we’re sure he’ll be doing a lot more of that this season.

The way he engineered so many of his chances on Tuesday evening was sublime. For a player that Guardiola says is struggling with a foot injury, he wasn’t half bad. Jesus didn’t even make it on to the pitch.

Winner: Ederson’s feet

A penny for Ederson’s thoughts when he completely mistimed the header he came out for in the second half. It’s a good job Leroy Sane had raced back to cover.

However, the Brazilian’s feet were on form all night. He is without doubt the ideal Manchester City goalkeeper. He completed 13 out of 14 attempted passes and made created one opportunity, with a ridiculously good pass to Sergio Aguero.

The mistimed header may back-up the theory that Ederson is something of a ‘raging bull’, though. He is often very keen to come off his line. The Mohamed Salah goal he conceded in last years Champions League quarter-final would suggest so, as would the Sadio Mané high-boot incident at the Etihad last season.

A classy goalkeeper, though, and someone that will continue to develop under Pep Guardiola.

Loser: Stefan Posch

Julian Nagelsmann said Hoffenheim had ‘a very bold plan’ before the game and he certainly wasn’t lying. Unfortunately, Stefan Posch’s late error that lead to David Silva’s winner cost them a point. The home side’s strategy to take the game to City was evident from the off. Ishak Belfodil’s early goal was one that you don’t often see City concede. Both Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi were caught out, with Aymeric Laporte adapting to a different role for him at left-back. It was a well taken goal and the quickest goal City have ever conceded in the Champions League.

As expected, Pep Guardiola’s men dominated for large periods, but Hoffenheim were bold in their approach and refused to back down. City should really have put some more of their chances away in the first half, but there was some good defending in there too.

Nagelsmann has shown that he’s a manager that is not afraid to change things up mid-game if he needs to. City’s wingers Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane were getting a lot of joy when City equalised, but the Hoffenheim boss reacted by changing from a back three to a back four. Both Sterling and Sane were hard to stop all night, but without Nagelsmann’s change things could have got very messy in the first half.

There was no sitting back to try and stop City with players behind the ball, Hoffenheim were bold throughout and you can certainly see why Nagelsmann is a manager who is so highly rated in Germany.

The post David Silva proves decisive: the winners and losers from Hoffenheim 1-2 Man City appeared first on Squawka News.



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