Manchester: Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday night despite beating Bayern Munich 2-0 at Eastlands. The game was never really in City's hands as Napoli only needed a point against Villareal to send Mancini's side out of the competition.
City impressed throughout the game; controlling possession and creating chances in both halves.
David Silva put his team in the lead with a terrific strike following a smart touch from Edin Dzeko. And, in the second half, Yaya Toure doubled City's lead after a nexus of intricate passes which resulted in Toure calmly slotting home.
Apart from the injured Micah Richards, Roberto Mancini had a full team to choose from. Stefan Savic and Joleon Lescott were preferred in defence while Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero spearheaded the team as the temperamental Mario Balotelli began on the bench.
Jupp Heynckes made a eight changes to the side that beat Werder Bremen 4-1 on the weekend. Jorg Butt replaced Manuel Neueu in goal and Nils Peterson made his first Champions League start; Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez, however, started as substitutes.
Although City put pressure on the German giants from the start, the game started fairly quietly. City’s only chance early on came via a Samir Nasri cross which Aguero couldn't keep down as it soared over the bar.
The game got of to a slow start with both teams only creating half-chances within the early stages. The first came to City: a lively Samir Nasri crossed a ball to Aguero whose header soared over the bar.
Then, on the other end of the pitch, Ivica Olic found himself free momentarily outside the box, but his low, driven shot was pummeled away by Joe Hart for a corner.
City, quite unluckily, had a goal disallowed on the 15th minute. Following a foul on Savic by Olic on the right flank, a David Silva free-kick saw Lescott and Butt both rise for the ball at the back post – however, the goal was ruled out for a rather innocuous foul on the keeper.
Mancini’s men began to dictate the tempo; dominating possession as Bayern struggled to get into the game.
City then took the lead via a stunning goal by Silva. The Spaniard was lurking at the edge of the area as Dzeko touched on Gareth Barry’s pass from the right wing. The ball sat up perfectly for Silva who lashed the ball home into the bottom corner.
Aguero almost doubled his team’s lead moments later. Toure charged forward and found Aguero who beat two defenders and despite evading the keeper too, had his shot cleared off the line by Jerome Boateng.
The effervescent talents of Aguero and Silva piled continuous pressure on Bayern. The Spanish maestro went close to scoring his second as City had clearly benefited from their opening goal. Silva wriggled between defenders inside the box and, after unleashing a shot which was parried away by Butt, the follow up was poked over the bar by Barry.
Both teams looked intent on scoring following the second-half kick-off. It was City, however, that proved the more efficient side as they cushioned their lead via a Toure goal.
An exquisite passing move by Mancini’s charges which saw Toure a play a one-two with Silva and then with Dzeko, resulted in the Ivorian finding himself free in the area to tuck the ball under Butt.
Attempting to get back into the game, Bayern created a half-chance: a Kompany header inside City’s area found Alaba whose left footed shot from outside the area was awkwardly parried away by Hart.
On the 65th minute the stadium quieted down as news of a Napoli goal in Spain sent negative vibes to Eastlands. The news that City may be exiting the competition beckoned and was exacerbated as Bayern fans chanted ‘Napoli’.
The game lost its urgency as the news that Napoli had doubled their lead found its way to Manchester. However, the home side pushed on for a third goal.
Aguero continued to use his pace in the final 20 minutes in an effort to score his first of the night, alas, to no success. Mancini made three changes in the final 15 minutes: Dzeko, Toure and Silva were replaced by Nigel De Jong, Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson.
Johnson had a chance to finish the game off as Balotelli pushed forward into the box and, upon being dispossessed, the England international shot wide despite finding himself in space.
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