There have recently been five defeats in a row for Manchester City – an unprecedented negative series under coach Pep Guardiola. There was another severe setback in the 3:3 (1:0) against Feyenoord Rotterdam. After goals from former DFB captain İlkay Gündoğan (50th) and striker Erling Haaland (44th/penalty and 53rd), the English champions already looked like the sure winner.
But after goals from Santiago Giménez (75th) and Anis Hadj Moussa (82nd), City had to tremble again before Dávid Hancko (89th) was actually able to secure a point for the Dutch. On Sunday (5 p.m./Sky) City’s top league game at Anfield Road will be against league leaders Liverpool, who are already eight points ahead. In the premier class, reaching the round of 16 directly is in serious danger.
The last few weeks have probably left their mark on the English. A historical horror show, was the recent headline in the “Manchester Evening News”. Last week there was a 0-4 debacle against Tottenham. Guardiola’s contract extension fizzled out during the crisis. “After eight years here, I knew that sooner or later we would crash,” said the 53-year-old matter-of-factly.
Lewandowski makes it 100
Star striker Robert Lewandowski took former national coach Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona to their fourth victory in the Champions League and shot himself into an elite club. The former Bayern and BVB attacker gave the Catalans the lead in the 3-0 (1-0) against Stade Brest with a penalty kick in the tenth minute. It was the Pole’s 100th goal in the premier class. Only Lionel Messi (129) and Cristiano Ronaldo (140) reached this mark before him. Former Leipzig player Dani Olmo (66th) and Lewandowski again (90th + 2) scored Barça’s further goals.
The leaders of the Spanish league were able to celebrate success again after two games without a win. In the Champions League table, the Spaniards are in second place with four wins from five games, which qualifies directly for the round of sixteen.
