Pep Guardiola’s selection gamble backfired as under-strength Manchester City suffered a shock 2-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
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Guardiola surprisingly rested the majority of his stars at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Gianluigi Donnarumma all left out of the starting line-up.
Leverkusen took advantage of a dismal display from Guardiola’s understudies as Alex Grimaldo put the Germans ahead in the first half before Patrik Schick netted after the break to spark grumbles of discontent from City fans at the final whistle.
For the first time in 24 games dating back 2018, City were beaten at home in the Champions League prior to the knockout stage.
It was a second consecutive loss for City after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle in the Premier League.
City have already lost four times in the Premier League this term to leave them seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
While their first Champions League defeat in five matches shouldn’t be fatal to their bid to reach the last 16, Guardiola will have absorbed the lesson that his reserves aren’t quite as formidable as he would hope.
Guardiola’s 100th Champions League match as City boss was a damp squib, in stark contrast to so many of the previous 99, which includes 62 wins and the club’s maiden European crown in 2023.
Guardiola said he felt “embarrassed and ashamed” after his on-pitch confrontation with a cameraman in the aftermath of the controversial defeat at Newcastle.
His players should be equally chastened after this lacklustre surrender. Guardiola had named the same team for the previous three games, but that unusually consistent selection policy went out the window with 10 changes.
Guardiola’s move may have been influenced by the knowledge City face two games a week for most of December, a hectic run that includes a trip to Real Madrid in their next Champions League fixture.
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Nathan Ake almost put City ahead after just five minutes when the defender took Oscar Bobb’s pass from a half-cleared corner and smashed a close-range effort that forced a superb tip over from Mark Flekken.
But although City monopolised possession, they lacked a killer instinct and paid for a sloppy piece of defending in the 23rd minute.
Malik Tillman and Christian Kofane were allowed time and space to tee up Grimaldo, who finished with a flourish as he lashed a low drive past James Trafford from 12 yards.
Rubbing his head in frustration on the touchline, Guardiola seemed especially vexed by Abdukodir Khusanov’s leaden-footed attempt to close down Grimaldo prior to the goal.
It was the first time City had trailed in the Champions League this season and the response was far from emphatic.
Omar Marmoush struggled to fill in for Haaland, although Bobb nearly snatched a fortuitous equaliser with a deflected cross that Flekken blocked with his leg.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts after a missed chance. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Tijjani Reijnders should have hauled City level on the stroke of half-time, but the midfielder shot straight at Flekken after bursting into the area.
Guardiola responded by sending on Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly at the interval.
O’Reilly threatened an instant impact with a long-range strike that tested Flekken.
But City’s frailties in their revamped defence were exposed again in the 54th minute.
Ibrahim Maza curled an inswinging cross into the six-yard box and Schick muscled his way across the culpable Ake to glance a header into the far corner.
Marmoush failed to convert a good chance to reduce the deficit and after the Egypt forward appealed in vain for a penalty Guardiola finally introduced Haaland.
But after missing several big chances at Newcastle, Haaland drew a blank again, fluffing his lines with a poor touch that allowed Flekken to save when he should have hit the target.
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‘UTTERLY BRILLIANT’ 18YO STARS IN CHELSEA DEMOLITION JOB
Estevao scored a breathtaking solo Champions League goal to win the battle of the teenage prodigies against Lamine Yamal on Tuesday as Chelsea humbled 10-man Barcelona 3-0.
The two 18-year-olds were the focus of attention in the build-up to the game at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca urging his player to ignore the comparisons.
Estevao’s moment of magic came 10 minutes after half time when he received the ball on the right before beating two defenders and lashing it into the roof of Joan Garcia’s net.
It was the 10th goal of the season for club and country for the winger, in his first season at Chelsea.
“You know what? Start believing the hype. Estevao Willian is extra special,” former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“The way he goes past the first player, there is no space whatsoever and he leaves him for dead. He did it just by pure skill and fast feet. He still had a difficult angle to overcome to finish it but he leathered it into the net.
“He is going to be absolutely and utterly brilliant. It isn’t a question of if, it is a question of when and how good he is going to be.”
Estevao’s goal gave Barcelona, already trailing 1-0 and down to 10 men, a mountain to climb and substitute Liam Delap put the game to bed in the 73rd minute, sidefooting home from close range.
Delap’s goal was initially ruled out for offside but VAR overruled the on-field officials.
The lopsided scoreline was just reward for two-time European champions Chelsea, who were superior from the first whistle against a pallid Barcelona team.
The game had started at a frantic pace.
Enzo Fernandez bundled the ball into the net in the fourth minute only for the goal to be ruled out due a handball by Wesley Fofana.
Two minutes later Ferran Torres seemed certain to score at the other end when clean through with only Robert Sanchez to beat but he skewed wide.
The game then drifted before Chelsea again upped the tempo.
Fernandez again had the ball in the net but this time it was disallowed for an offside and moments later Pedro Neto blazed over the bar.
Estevao celebrates after scoring their second goal. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)Source: AFP
But the home side’s pressure finally paid off in the 27th minute following a short-corner routine.
The ball was eventually whipped into the box and Barcelona tied themselves in knots, Jules Kounde poking the ball home for an own goal.
The game took a decisive turn moments before half-time when Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo received a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea maintained their intensity in the second half and were richly rewarded with the goals from Estevao and Delap, while five-time Champions League winners Barcelona offered little.
The Stamford Bridge fans taunted the ineffective Yamal after Estevao scored and jeered when he was substituted late in the game.
Maresca’s men, back in the Champions League after two years away, have now won three of their first five games to give themselves a fighting chance of finishing in the top eight.
That would mean automatic qualification for the last 16.
The club are also picking up momentum in the Premier League, sitting second in the table ahead of Sunday’s home match against leaders Arsenal.
DORTMUND CRUISE PAST 10-MAN VILLARREAL
Elsewhere, Serhou Guirassy scored twice as Borussia Dortmund beat 10-man Villarreal 4-0 at home.
Dortmund’s first win in all competitions since October, took the 2024 Champions League finalists to fourth in the table with five games played.
Last season’s joint top Champions League goalscorer, Guirassy had found the net just once in his past nine matches, but headed Dortmund in front seconds before halftime.
Villarreal captain Juan Foyth was sent off early in the second period when a VAR review found he handballed a goalbound shot from Karim Adeyemi.
Guirassy’s penalty was well saved by Villarreal goalie Luiz Junior but the Guinean tapped in the rebound to double Dortmund’s lead.
Adeyemi got on the scoresheet just before the half hour mark when he pressured former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey into a rushed clearance, which bounced in off the German’s leg.
Fabio Silva hit a late penalty against the crossbar but Daniel Svensson headed in off Pascal Gross in stoppage time to add gloss to the victory.
The loss continued Villarreal’s poor form in Europe this season, despite an impressive domestic campaign.
Villarreal have claimed just one point from five Champions League matches, but sit third in La Liga, three points behind leaders Real Madrid.
