City up-and-running in the new Champions League format after back-to-back Premier League draws

It was a difficult trip to St. James’ Park last Saturday which saw City return from Tyneside with a point in a feisty early kick-off clash with Newcastle. 

Manchester City lined up for their first premier league game without their talisman and metronome Rodri against Newcastle in the 12:30 match last weekend. That omission would be hard felt over the proceeding 90 minutes in front of a hostile north-east crowd. 

Heavy early challenges from Newcastle players riled up St. James’ Park to set the tone of the match. It was the magpie's relentless press that led to some unrest amongst City, with a nail-biting moment from Manchester City’s Brazilian keeper Ederson who produced a smooth back-heel to evade Anthony Gordon’s press. 

Despite Newcastle probably being on top in the opening half hour of the game, squandered chances from both sides saw early signs of a goalless contest. Yet despite warning signs from Newcastle, they were unable to prevent a classy City goal from an unlikely scorer. Kieran Tripper, who had struggled to deal with Jack Grealish the entire first half, was beaten again as City’s record signing played a perfect ball to left-back Gvardiol who skipped past the Newcastle back line before dropping the shoulder and sending Dan Burn for an early shower and slotting the ball cooly past Nick Pope. 

It was Newcastle who ended the half on top, however as Ederson was forced into action to prevent a Joelinton effort after a beautiful takedown. 

It was an unfortunate case of hero turned villain for Manchester City’s man between the sticks as, within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Ederson brought down Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and awarded the magpies a penalty which the Englishman made no mistake in converting. 

City’s best chance of the second half came when Erling Haaland plucked the ball out of the air and into the path of Phil Foden, but the City substitute fired the ball straight at Nick Pope. 

Unlike the Arsenal game the weekend prior, there was no stoppage time heroics to give City fans cause for celebration and the blues had to settle for back-to-back draws in the premier league. Despite a sizzling start to their league campaign, the atmosphere at City has fallen flat and they can only feel like they should have gotten more from these games. 

After a somewhat disappointing result in the Premier league, there was no rest bite for City who flew to Slovakia for their first game away from home in Europe this season. 

Manchester City secured their first UEFA Champions League win of the season on Tuesday night with a 4-0 drubbing of Slovak First Football League reigning champions Slovan Bratislava.  

In a game which TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist dubbed ‘a mismatch’, the Premier League champions took an early lead inside 8 minutes thanks to a deflected volley by Ilkay Gundogan, who wore the captain’s armband on the night, his first goal since returning to the club from Barcelona. 

It was Phil Foden who doubled City’s cushion, netting a composed trademark curled finish past the keeper after picking the ball up from Jeremy Doku on the top of the 18-yard box just before the 15-minute mark. 

It was becoming a half to forget for the Slovakian champions as Jeremy Doku seemed to have endless joy attacking the Slovan defence which resulted in chance after chance for City, with shots from Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland denied by Dominik Takac.  

The City pressure didn’t cease as the blues came out for the second half, with the Belgian winger continuing to torment, driving into the penalty area to lay off Rico Lewis who saw his shot beaten away once again by Takac. 

Just before the hour mark, it was Lewis who turned provider, slotting a perfect through ball to Man City’s number 9 who, despite a quiet game up to that point, made no mistake in rounding the keeper and passing it into an open net. 

That wouldn’t be the end of City’s domination, however, as Guardiola’s men soon added a fourth with a goal made in Manchester. Rico Lewis linked up with Phil Foden who set up James McAtee nicely for his first senior City goal.  

Despite a valiant effort from the Slovakians to keep it just to 4, there was always going to be only one winner in this match and Pep Guardiola will be happy to come away with three points in this new champion's league format. It was also an emotional reunion for Slovan Bratislava captain Vladimir Weiss, who scored for City in the 2008 FA Youth Cup final as we beat Chelsea to lift the trophy. 

The blues will be happy to turn around the weekend disappointment and look to next weekend as they host Fulham at the Etihad.