Manchester City were chasing their first win after five consecutive defeats. They do it against Feyenoord in the Champions League at home at the Etihad.
After barely ten minutes of play, City were inches away from taking the lead. An Akanji cross was met by Haaland but his header was saved at the last moment by Wellenreuther in the goal.
The lead goal would come for Manchester City. Because just before the end of the first half, the home team received a penalty. And there Erling Haaland, who missed a penalty in the last CL match, made no mistakes and sent in 1-0.
“A relief for City. They have performed well below their level but that penalty could be the moment that reverses their tragic trend,” wrote SSN reporter Ben Ransom.
– Just what Haaland needs. Just what his team needs, and his coach. You can see the frustration, commented Alan Shearer.
In the second half, City struck almost immediately. In the 50th minute, Ilkay Gündogan made it 2-0 behind Wellenreuther, who was stopped by a defender touching the ball.
And it added flavor.
Because only minutes later it was time again. Erling Haaland ran free in the penalty area and was served by Nunes. The Norwegian then only needed to slide there with his foot and 3-0 was a fact.
“In an instant we got to see the old Haaland. Forget the misses of the last few weeks, he entered the penalty area like a ‘bulldozer’ and slid the ball in. He only had one thing on his mind,” wrote Ben Ransom.
But the away team would get their hopes up in the match. In the 75th minute, the City defense was careless and Anis Hadj Moussa was able to send in 3-1 behind Ederson.
– City will be disappointed to have failed to keep a clean sheet after another miss, this time from Guardiol with a weak header, noted Tim Sherwood.
In the 82nd minute, it struck again. Feyenoord put there 3-2 and breathed life into the match.
“All of a sudden it was very quiet at the Etihad,” wrote Sky Sports’ Ben Ransom.
– We have ten long minutes to wait, thanks to stupid mistakes. They only have themselves to blame, said Alan Shearer.
And Feyenoord would complete the pickup.
David Hancko was served, more or less, open goal by Igor Paixao and sent there 3-3 behind Ederson.
– A disaster, stated Alan Shearer in the Amazon Prime broadcast.
“What is happening with City right now is a mystery,” wrote former Norwegian national team player Jan Åge Fjørtoft on X.
And 3-3 was the final result after a huge collapse from Man City, who continue to chase a victory after a difficult period. The last time the team won was against Southampton on October 26th, a month ago.
“The City players look completely shell-shocked,” wrote SSN’s Ben Ransom.
After the match, Alan Shearer continued his criticism of the Manchester team.
– They look weak, they look light, they look fragile. With two minutes left and a 3-2 lead, they take a quick free kick. Why? Kill the match. They were in such a comfortable position, he said on the Amazon Prime broadcast.
Something Pep Guardiola agreed with.
– We have lost some games recently, we are fragile, we need a victory. The match was good for confidence, we played at a good level and then when the first (goal) happened, then we had problems, he said after the match in an interview on the Amazon Prime broadcast, continuing:
– I don’t know if it’s mental. The first goal must not happen and neither can the second. After that we forget everything, we were desperate to win and play well, we play well but we don’t win games. The situation is what it is. We play a good game, but at this level, you can’t give games away.
The tie sees Man City sit 15th in the Champions League table while Feyenoord sit 20th.
Startelvor:
Manchester City: Ederson – Lewis, Akanji, Aké, Gvardiol – Silva, Gündogan, Nunes – Foden, Haaland, Grealish
Feyenoord: Wellenreuther – Nieuwkoop, Trauner, Hancko, Smal – Hwang, Milambo, Timber – Hadj Moussa, Carranza, Paixao
(in a sharp, cheeky tone, with a hint of Jimmy Carr’s irreverence, Rowan Atkinson’s wit, Ricky Gervais’s sarcasm, and Lee Evans’s energy)
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Manchester City, the team that’s been on a losing streak longer than a Strictly Come Dancing contestant’s excuses for their poor dancing. Five consecutive defeats, and they were starting to think they’d never find the back of the net again. But, alas, they finally managed to get their act together and score a few goals against Feyenoord in the Champions League. And then, in true City fashion, they proceeded to throw it all away.
I mean, let’s be real, folks. City were playing like a team possessed… by the spirit of incompetence. They were like a bunch of headless chickens, running around, flailing their arms, and hoping for the best. And, of course, their defense was about as solid as a Jenga tower in a hurricane. I’m surprised they didn’t manage to concede a goal or two more.
But, in all seriousness, City’s collapse was a masterclass in how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. They were 3-0 up, cruising, and then… well, let’s just say they decided to take a leisurely stroll down the road of complacency. And, as we all know, that’s a road that leads directly to Nowheresville.
Alan Shearer, the legendary Newcastle United striker, was quick to pounce on City’s mistakes, saying they looked "weak, light, and fragile." Ouch, that’s a bit harsh, isn’t it, Alan? I mean, I’ve seen more robust defenses in a Sunday league match. But, I suppose when you’re a team of Manchester City’s caliber, you’ve got to expect a bit of criticism when you mess up.
And, let’s not forget, folks, City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, was left scratching his head, wondering what on earth had just happened. "I don’t know if it’s mental," he said, in a post-match interview. "The first goal must not happen, and neither can the second." Ah, Pep, you’re a genius, but sometimes even the greatest minds can’t figure out what’s going on in the minds of their players.
Anyway, it’s all water under the bridge now. City will just have to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and try again. After all, as the great philosopher, Ron Swanson, once said, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And then, throw the lemonade in the face of the person who gave you the lemons."
And, on that note, let’s take a look at the starting lineups for both teams:
Manchester City: Ederson – Lewis, Akanji, Aké, Gvardiol – Silva, Gündogan, Nunes – Foden, Haaland, Grealish
Feyenoord: Wellenreuther – Nieuwkoop, Trauner, Hancko, Smal – Hwang, Milambo, Timber – Hadj Moussa, Carranza, Paixao
There you have it, folks, the starting lineups for a match that will go down in history as one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Or, you know, just another example of Manchester City’s inability to close out a game. Either way, it was an entertaining match, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for these two teams.
Stay tuned, folks!
Manchester City, struggling to regain their footing after five consecutive defeats, finally secured their first win against Feyenoord in the Champions League at the Etihad, but the victory was short-lived, as they let their 3-0 lead slip and the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
In a frantic start to the game, Manchester City came within inches of taking the lead, courtesy of a brilliant cross from Manuel Akanji, which Erling Haaland fizzled with a powerful header that was miraculously parried by Wellenreuther at the last moment.
The home side was awarded a penalty just before the end of the first half, offering Erling Haaland the perfect opportunity to redeem himself after missing a penalty in their previous Champions League match, which he clinically dispatched to give Manchester City the lead 1-0.
“Manchester City has finally found some relief after underperforming, and this penalty might be the turning point that reverses their tragic trend,” highlighted SSN reporter Ben Ransom. “Haaland and his team needed this win desperately, and it’s clear to see the frustration that’s been building.”
Alan Shearer echoed these sentiments, stating, “Haaland and his team have been lacking in confidence, but this goal could change things. The frustration is evident, and you can see it in their body language.
Manchester City started the second half with a renewed sense of purpose and Ilkay Gündogan doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 50th minute with a cleverly crafted goal, taking advantage of Wellenreuther’s momentary lapse in concentration.
Things were going smoothly for Manchester City as Erling Haaland increased their lead to 3-0, displaying his signature nonchalant flair with a well-placed slide after being served by Nunes. Ben Ransom noted, “Haaland’s bulldozing style made all the difference; he smashed through the penalty area with purpose, single-minded in his pursuit of a goal.”
Feyenoord momentarily reignited their hopes with an Anis Hadj Moussa goal in the 75th minute, drawing the away team within two goals behind Manchester City.
Ultimately, Feyenoord produced a miraculous comeback, tying the match at 3-3 with goals from Igor Paixao and David Hancko in the 82nd and 88th minutes, respectively.
This unexpected turn of events stunned Manchester City, who once held a comfortable 3-0 lead. “Suddenly, the atmosphere at the Etihad turned deathly quiet,” noted Sky Sports’ Ben Ransom.
Former Norwegian international Jan Åge Fjørtoft captured the essence of Manchester City’s collapse: “The impossible happened; Manchester City should have secured an easy win but made mistake after mistake and paid the price.”
Manchester City continues to struggle with their fifth consecutive draw after allowing Feyenoord to come back from a 3-0 deficit, ultimately leading to a 3-3 stalemate.
According to SSN’s Ben Ransom, “The Manchester City players were left shell-shocked by Feyenoord’s incredible turnaround.”
Alan Shearer continued to voice his disappointment with Manchester City’s performance, stating, “They look weak, light, and fragile. Why would they risk losing possession in a comfortable position with only two minutes left on the clock? Such recklessness is inexcusable.”
Pep Guardiola mirrored these sentiments, admitting that his team’s inability to finish games has been their downfall, citing confidence as a major issue that needs addressing. “When you’re struggling, you put yourself in bad situations, and that’s exactly what’s happening with us right now.”
Manchester City remains 15th in the Champions League table, while Feyenoord ranks 20th, following this unexpected tie.
Starting Lineup:
Manchester City:
– Ederson
– Lewis
– Akanji
– Aké
– Gvardiol
– Silva
– Gündogan
– Nunes
– Foden
– Haaland
– Grealish
Feyenoord:
– Wellenreuther
– Nieuwkoop
– Trauner
– Hancko
– Smal
