Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the
Champions League clash between
Manchester City and
Borussia Monchengladbach at the Etihad Stadium.
Manuel Pellegrini's side will be eyeing a return to form this evening following their narrow defeat to Juventus in their last European match, while the Citizens also lost at the weekend in the Premier League to Stoke City. After a strong start to the campaign City have started to lose their composure at recent weeks after being exposed at the back by an injury to Vincent Kompany. However, the club have already secured their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League, but they will be determined to end their Group G campaign on a strong note.
Since their defeat at the hands of City in September, Borussia Monchengladbach are unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions. The German side endured a torrid start to the season, losing seven of their opening 10 games, which all but ended their hopes of advancing in the Champions League.
Andre Schubert's men were eliminated from contention to reach the last 16 despite their win over Sevilla last time out, with only pride to play for this evening. However. Mochengladbach will be determined to take the scalp of City to add to Pellegrini's worries.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
MANCHESTER CITY STARTING XI: Hart; Clichy, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Delph; Silva, Toure, De Bruyne; Sterling
Subs: Caballero, Maffeo, Sagna, Adarabioyo, Celina, Navas, Bony
BORUSSIA MOCHENGLADBACH STARTING XI: Sommer; Christensen, Korb, Elvedi, Wendt; Nordtveit, Dahoud, Johnson, Xhaka; Stindl,
RaffaelSubs: Brouwers, Drmic, Hazard, Schulz, Jantschke, Hrgota, Heimeroth
City have made four changes from their defeat to Stoke on Saturday for this evening's contest. Gael Clichy comes into the side at right-back to replace Bacary Sagna, while Eliaquim Mangala comes into centre-back for Martin Demichelis. Yaya Toure is fit again to lead the Citizens in the absence of Vincent Kompany after missing the loss to the Potters. The Ivorian comes into the midfield with Fabian Delph as
Wilfried Bony and Fernando drop out of the starting lineup, which presses
Raheem Sterling up front to spearhead the attack.
Mochengladbach come into the match fresh off their stunning victory over Bayern Munich in their Bundesliga clash at the weekend. As a result, Schubert has opted to name an unchanged team from their 3-1 win at Borussia Park. Lars Stindl leads the line this evening after notching his side's second goal in the victory and he is expected to play in front of a four-man midfield with Raffael and Fabian Johnson operating on the flanks and Granit Xhaka and Mahmoud Dahoud operating in the middle of the park. Nico Elvedi, Havard Nordtveit and Andreas Christensen will anchor the defence in a three-man partnership in front of Yann Sommer.
Fabian Delph makes his first start in the Champions League this evening for City since his £8m move from Aston Villa in the summer. The 26-year-old has started to come into the fold at the club after injuries disrupted the early part of his season, and he will be looking to make an impact for the Citizens tonight.
Pellegrini has insisted that he will be satisfied with his side's performance in the group stage, even if they are unable to advance as winners of Group D this evening.
City will be handed a tougher draw in the last 16 of the competition, but given the situations the other English teams find themselves in the competition, the Chilean has admitted that he is happy with his team's progression.
He told reporters: "The most important thing was to qualify. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal would like to be in our position.
"If you don't finish at the top of the group, I don't think it is disappointing. We [had] to play twice against Juventus, who are the best team in the group. I don't think we always have to be pessimistic about the draw."
Schubert has revealed that his side are desperate to secure a win this evening and earn a place in the Europa League. The 44-year-old believes that the club's victory over Bayern at the weekend has given them confidence of earning a positive result at the Etihad.
He told reporters: "We definitely want to continue our European adventure. We will be up against a very, very strong opponent, but we will do everything we can to achieve something on our terms.
"We can take things from the Bayern game: mostly that we can mix it with the strongest teams in the world."
City have been troubled by a run of inconsistent form over the past month, which started in their goalless draw against Aston Villa. Since then, they have been beaten by Juventus, Liverpool and Stoke, which saw them drop into third place in the Premier League and lose their grip on top spot in Group D. Kompany has not played since the draw against the Villans, leading to his side's struggles at the back, and the Belgian's absence along with Sergio Aguero's injury has certainly played a huge factor in City's recent slide.
City have never progressed beyond the first knockout round, which is why a victory tonight could hold the key to them reaching the last eight for the first time in their history. Should Juventus fail to beat Sevilla in their clash, it would open the door for City to top the group and face a second-placed team rather than a group winner. The club have faced off against Barcelona in their two forrays into the last 16, but they could avoid the Catalan club along with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich by clinching the three points tonight.
Schubert has been a revelation for Mochengladbach since he replaced Lucien Favre at the club in September. The club are currently on the joint-longest unbeaten run across the five major European leagues with Atletico Madrid. Their victory over Bayern at the weekend proved their credentials as a top-class outfit, and although Bayern's control of the Bundesliga will prevent them making a challenge for the title. Their surge up the table under Schubert should ensure that we see the club in the Champions League once again next season.
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Glenn Hoddle has
claimed that City lack quality depth in their side to cope with the absences of Kompany and Aguero, which has culminated in their below-par displays of late.
"For me, with Silva and Aguero not playing and Kompany and Toure having been missing, without that spine the club not bought well," Hoddle told BT Sport.
Those players will have the chance to prove Hoddle wrong this evening, in an important evening for Pellegrini and his men.
The players are making their way out on to the pitch so we should be underway shortly.
KICKOFF! We're underway at the Etihad Stadium.
Early test for Sommer as he is forced to race off his line to collect the ball down the left flank, but the keeper manages to keep his cool to clear the danger from the advancing De Bruyne.
City display their vulnerability at the back as Stindl wins a knock down into the path of Johnson on the edge of the box. The American has time but opts to strike the ball immediately at goal, and can only send his strike well over the bar. A let off for the home side as the winger had space and time on the edge of the area.
CHANCE! Korb misses an opening to fire Mochengladbach into the lead as he races on to Raffael's low pass into the box, but from a tight angle he blazes the ball over the bar. Stindl carved out the opening by battling with Mangala to win possession, and the Brazilian found the run of Korb after he was played onside by Otamendi, but he failed to find the finish.
City respond to the threat through a promising run from De Bruyne and the Belgian raids down the right before sending a ball across the face of goal, but no player in sky blue is there to convert the cross. Sterling and Toure were on their heels on the edge of the box.
Schubert was not lying when he said that his side were full of confidence. The visitors have dominated possession in the early stages of the match and have City well and truly on the back foot, and should be ahead at Etihad.
Nordtveit catches Sterling with a high boot and the England international hits the deck in agony. The Norwegian escapes a booking for the incident and may have been fortunate to do so, the challenge was reckless on the City forward.
De Bruyne continues to be City's only outlet this evening and he raids down the left flank before sending a low cross into the box, which forces Christensen into action to send the ball behind.
City cannot capitalise on the set piece as Silva's delivery from the left lands straight at the feet of a Mochengladbach defender and is cleared with ease. Silva is capable of much better than that cross.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Borussia Monchengladbach (Silva)
Silva proves that he is capable of far better than his poor set piece by firing City ahead with a powerful effort that almost bursts the net. The home side raided down the left flank with menace for a spell of to minutes before Sterling carved the Mochengladbach defence apart with a clever back heel into the path of the Spaniard. Silva took a good first touch before drilling his effort high into the net past Sommer. Impressive goal from all round from City.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach (Korb)
The visitors are back in the match immediately as City are cut open with ease at the back by a forward run by Johnson, which allows Korb to drill a volley past Hart into the bottom corner. The American collected a layoff from Stindl and simply ran at Otamendi and drove into the box before he cut the ball across the edge into the path of Korb. The German held his composure to take a touch before smashing his effort on the half-volley into the net.
City push back upfield through Silva as he weaves his way through two challenges to try and tee up Delph on the edge of the box, but Dahoud comes back to make the interception and clear the danger for the visitors.
Stindl continues to be a thorn in the side of the City defence as he collects a pass from Wendt and then sends the full-back down the flank with a neat through-ball. Wendt puts a low cross into the box, but no black shirt is there to pounce as Hart watches the ball go through. Pellegrini's men are wide open at the back.
City's turn to attack and Kolarov finds space down the flank to raid towards the byline where he sends the ball back across the face of goal, but Sterling just cannot make contact as he runs into the six-yard box. Aguero's absence looming large for the Citizens.
Johnson displays his quality in the final third by beating the challenge of Clichy and running into the space down the left wing, but his cross for the first time in the match lets his down as he fails to find Stindl in the area.
Nice turn of pace by Sterling to open up room for a strike at goal from the edge of the penalty area, but his strike goes harmleslly over the bar with Sommer having his angles covered anyway.
Sterling does well for City to send De Bruyne down the flank, but the Belgian gets crowded out as he tries to pick out a pass into the middle. However, the ball lands at the feet of Toure 30 yards from goal and the Ivorian launches an ambitious effort at goal, but sends his strike well over the bar.
Elvedi heads the ball back to Sommer, but does not get enough contact to send it into the box. Sterling attempts to race on to the loose ball, but the keeper just beats him to it to clear. The England international has been City's bright spark this evening.
CHANCE! Sterling breaks in behind the Mochengladbach defence and sends the ball across the face of goal, but Delph cannot rise high enough at the back post to head into the net. The attack is kept alive by the midfielder, who plays the ball out to Kolarov who tries to find the corner with an ambitious strike from a tight angle, but his effort sails wide.
GOAL! Manchester City 1-2 Borussia Monchengladbach (Raffael)
The visitors hit City on the counter and take the lead as Raffael finds the net from close range. Wendt caused problems down the left and his low ball into the area was knocked on by Stindl and fell into the path of the Brazilian, who calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner past a helpless Hart.
HALF-TIME: Manchester City 1-2 Borussia Monchengladbach
Manchester City are behind at the break to Borussia Monchengladbach as goals from
Julian Korb and Raffael have put the German side 2-1 ahead at the Etihad Stadium, despite
David Silva's opener in the 16th minute. City are facing the possibility once again of facing a group winner in the next round of the competition, should they be unable to reverse the scoreline in the second half of the contest. An important 45 minutes awaits Pellegrini and his team.
City's problems at the back have continued this evening as they have been cut open at least half a dozen times. Korb shoud have put the visitors ahead in the opening minutes of the match, but he missed the target. Silva then showed his quality by blasting the home side in front, but their lead lasted just three minutes when Fabian Johson raided into the final third and put Korb in for the second time in the match and this time he found the net. Monchengladbach then showed their ability on the counter by playing through City before Raffael converted from close range. The game is in the hands of Schubert's men now, as they can now sit back and look to pick off Pellegrini's men on the counter.
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The players have emerged for the second half, so we should be back underway shortly.
RESTART! We're back underway at the Etihad.
City work the ball well in the final third as Toure declines the option to strike at goal from the edge of the box to play in Clichy down the right. The Frenchman sends a cross to the back post, but Sterling is penalised for climbing on the back of Elvedi as he headed the ball at goal. Sending crosses for Sterling to outjump the Borussia backline are not a good matchup for the England international.
CHANCE! The home sid capitalise on an error from Xhaka in the middle of the park and break forward in numbers. Silva cannot find room for a strike, but he plays the ball for De Bruyne, who has a similar problem. The Belgian tees up Kolarova for a blast on the edge of the box, but his effort is deflected over the bar.
Monchengladbach are working their way back into the match after being put on the back foot by City in the early stages of the second half. They can control proceedings and put all the pressure on Pellegrini's men with a possession game, but that could also take them out of their comfort zone. Interesting passage of play will develop over the next 10 minutes.
CHANCE! Sterling almost capitalises on an error from Elvedi as he tries to chest the ball back to Sommer from Fernandinho's cross into the box. Sterling gets a touch on the ball, but not enough to guide it past the keeper as Sommer gets a leg on the ball and scoops it up into his grasp.
Julian Korb equalises for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 19th minute at the Etihad Stadium.
CHANCE! Sterling collects the ball in the final third and cuts back on to his right foot, but cannot find room for the strike. He feeds Silva on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard's left-footed strike is tame and straight at Sommer.
CHANCE! Another opening for City as Kolarov raids into space down the flank and Sterling receives the ball in space 20 yards from goal and has the opportunity to hit either corner to find the net. However, the England international drives his strike straight into the arms of Sommer.
CHANCE! Space opens up for Silva down the left, and the Spaniard has the chance to shoot first time on his left foot. However, he passes up the opportunity and tries to loft the ball on to the head of Delph, but his delivery fails to find the midfielder.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Navas and Bony come on for City to replace De Bruyne and Delph, while Schulz replaces Dahoud for the visitors.
CHANCE! Sterling is denied by a fine save from Sommer as he volleys his effort into the ground at the back post, but the keeper dives low to his left and palms the ball away from goal. The ball took a deflection on its way to the net, which makes the save from Swiss even more impressive.
It has been one of those frustrating matches for Manchester City...
UPDATE! A boost for City as Fernando Llorente has put Sevilla ahead against Juventus. If the result stays the same, City can win Group G by defeating Monchengladbach this evening.
SUBSTITUTION: Johnson is forced to make way for the visitors with an apparent leg injury, and is replaced by Josip Drmic.
Kolarov sends a dangerous free kick into the box, but Otamendi gets his effort all wrong as he can only head well wide of the post. The defender appeared to turn his head a fraction too early.
Monchengladbach win a free kick 35 yards from goal as Otamendi brings down Schulz. Xhaka tests Hart from distance with a powerful strike, but the keeper is equal to the effort to corral the shot at the second attempt.
CHANCE! Stindl latches on to a loose ball in the box following good work from Schulz to dispossess Clichy in the final third, but the forward can only send his volley on the turn over the bar.
GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Borussia Monchengladbach (Sterling)
City get back on level terms and Sterling has deserved his goal for his exploits this evening. Clichy creates the goal as he bursts down the flank and sends a low ball across the face of goal, and although Bony missed his strike he managed to get enough on the ball to send it into the path of Sterling, who steered his left-footed strike past Sommer.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-2 Borussia Monchengladbach (Sterling)
City turn the game on its head in two minutes as Sterling notches his second of the evening by curling his strike beyond the reach of Sommer into the corner. Monchengladbach were carved open at the back and Bony played the England international into acres of space down the flank, and the 21-year-old held his composure to control the ball on his right foot foot before sending his effort into the net.
GOAL! Manchester City 4-2 Borussia Monchengladbach (Bony)
City surely secure their victory as Bony latches on to a pinpoint cross from Kolarov from the left, and although his first strike hits Christensen, the ball rebounds back into his path and allows his to stroke his effort into the bottom corner. Slightly fortunate, but the home side have deserved a bit of luck for their display in the second half.
CHANCE! Raffael almost gets a goal back for Monchengladbach as he raids into space before firing a vicious strike at goal. The Brazilian's effort is deflected on its way to the net, but Hart makes a fine save. However, Stindl reacts on the rebound with a blistering volley from the edge of the box, but Otamendi puts his body on the line to block the strike.
There will be three minutes of added time.
CHANCE! Bony has the chance to put the icing on the cake after collecting Navas's pass on the edge of the box, but he curls his effort just wide of the post.
FULL-TIME: Manchester City 4-2 Borussia Monchengladbach
City win Group D thanks to their late comeback this evening as Raheem Sterling scored a late brace to inspire his side to victory. The Citizens were a different team in the second half and put the German side under intense pressure at the back before they finally broke through in the 79th minute when Sterling prodded home from close range. Once they found the net they quickly capitalised to score two further times to seal the three points and replace Juventus at the top of the group, following the Italian team's defeat to Sevila.
Sterling put in an extremely impressive display this evening and is the main reason that his side will line up with a favourable draw against a second-place team in the next round of the competition rather than the prospect of drawing Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid. Pellegrini looked slightly relieved as his team rallied from 2-1 down to claim the victory, which will please him given his side's recent run of indifferent form.
Monchengladbach will bow out of the European competitions as a result of their defeat. Their 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions was broken as they failed to hold out for the three points at the Etihad Stadium. Sevillla's win means they will not even compete in the Europa League and will now look ahead to their domestic commitments for the rest of the campaign. However, Schubert and his team should be proud of their efforts and could be a force to be reckoned with in a few years.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening, until next time, goodbye.