midfielder Ilkay Gundogan celebrates with team mates after scoring
a goal during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match
between Olympique de Marseille and Manchester City on October 27,
2020 at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille. AFP
Manchester City made it two wins from two in their
latest bid for Champions League glory as Kevin De Bruyne starred in
a straightforward 3-0 win at Marseille on
Tuesday.
The English side, who have never reached the semi-finals under
Pep Guardiola, sit top of the early Group C table after their
opening victory at Porto last week.
With De Bruyne running the show in midfield on his first start
since returning from injury, City cruised past a largely
ineffective Marseille.
Andre-Villas Boas’s men, playing in their first Champions League
campaign since 2013, are rooted to the foot of the group after
back-to-back defeats.
Porto sit second behind City after a 2-0 win over Olympiakos in
Group C’s other match on Tuesday.
City, who have only won two of their opening five Premier League
games this season, started with Ferran Torres up front in the
absence of injured duo Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.
The visitors dominated the early stages without creating many
clear-cut chances, but were handed the opening goal in the 18th
minute.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Marseille midfielder Valentin Rongier’s dreadful pass put
De Bruyne in the clear, and the Belgian squared for Torres to slot
in his third City goal since signing from Valencia.
City appeared likely to win without any help from their
opponents, but Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi
contrived to lose the ball inside his own area and was fortunate to
see Oleksandr Zinchenko’s effort clip the base of the post.
The home side were much improved after the interval, though, and
City goalkeeper Ederson was lucky to fumble a long-range strike
from Florian Thauvin onto his post and behind.
But any hopes of a push for a late OM equaliser were put to bed
14 minutes from time.
Phil Foden stood a high ball up to the back post which Raheem
Sterling nodded down for Ilkay Gundogan to score.
It was not long before De Bruyne collected his second assist of
the game, as his low pass was tapped home by Sterling.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/10/28/masterly-de-bruyne-inspires-city-past-tame-marseille/