Manchester City remarkably let a comfortable 3-0 lead against Feyenoord slip and fell to an embarrassing 3-3 Champions League draw. It is the latest horror show for Pep Guardiola‘s side, who will now go more than a month without a victory across all competitions.
Ederson and Josko Gvardiol were particularly culpable for the late collapse, which saw Feyenoord score three times in the final 12 minutes. Pep Guardiola fumed when the duo suffered a mix-up to allow what appeared to be a late consolation for the Dutch side – but the worse was yet to come.
Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko scored goals to compound another woeful night for City and Guardiola. It seemed set to be an easy win with the Premier League champions 3-0 ahead on 77 minutes, with Erling Haaland scoring twice either side of a deflected Ilkay Gundogan strike.
Here is how Express Sport rated City’s players.
Ederson – 4
Ederson had little to do until Gvardiol’s backpass left him stranded. The Brazilian was then unconvincing as he attempted to cut out the cross from which Gimenez scored Feyenoord’s second, and was in no man’s land as he stormed out of his goal before the equaliser.
Rico Lewis – 6
Inverting into midfield, Lewis was key to City retaining possession for large periods of the game and pinning Feyenoord back towards their own goal. However, he was part of his side’s late collapse and was beaten in the air for the equaliser.
Manuel Akanji – 5
City’s collapse late on was extremely avoidable. Akanji played his part with some lapses in concentration.
Nathan Ake – 6
Ake dealt with Feyenoord’s meagre threat well until his 68th-minute withdrawal. Guardiola, in hindsight, might have kept him on the pitch.
Josko Gvardiol – 4
Gvardiol’s woeful backpass allowed Anis Hadj Moussa to round Ederson and convert from a tight angle. It was a seriously sloppy moment that left Guardiola furious. The defender then failed to cut out a cross which led to Feyenoord’s second goal.
Ilkay Gundogan – 6
Gundogan’s deflected left-footed volley midway through the second half gave City plenty of comfort. This was the German’s best performance since his return from Barcelona.
Matheus Nunes – 7
This was one of Nunes’ best games for City. Positioned centrally, his movement and ability to break between the lines was key. One of his bursts forward culminating in him finding the side netting with a ferocious strike.
Bernardo Silva – 6
Silva helped City press high and he won the ball in advantageous positions several times. On one of those occasions, he was unfortunate not to create a goal for Haaland in the first half.
Phil Foden – 7
Most of the positive work City did came through Foden. As the closest midfielder to Haaland, the England international posed a huge threat and came close to scoring a couple of times.
Jack Grealish – 6
Had spurts of involvement and nearly struck a dramatic winner when his effort looped up and onto the post.
Erling Haaland – 7
On an initially frustrating night for Haaland, he eventually struck a brace with a goal in either half. Ederson and Gvardiol compounded to make this another bad evening for the hosts, though.
Substitutes
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey – 5
Guardiola might have seen this as an opportunity to provide one of City’s brightest defensive stars 20 minutes of action with his side 3-0 ahead. The teenager must accept some of the blame for the poor defending in the final 15 minutes.
James McAtee – 5
City lost control after Guardiola’s trio of substitutions in the 68th minute and the Spaniard must take accept some of the responsibility. McAtee had little impact.
Kevin De Bruyne – 5
De Bruyne nearly created a couple of chances but was unable to prevent what happened late on.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk