Monchengladbach vs. Manchester City: Winners and Losers from UCL Game
Manchester City got their UEFA Champions League campaign back on track on Wednesday night with a smash-and-grab victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.
Joe Hart made a string of brilliant saves, including a penalty from Raffael, before Lars Stindl finally slid home after good work from Patrick Herrmann. Nicolas Otamendi levelled in contentious circumstances and Sergio Aguero secured the win with a late penalty of his own.
"We were really disjointed. We had a good half and a bad half, but we deserved to win," Hart told BT Sport's live broadcast after the game. "They're a very fit team, but they worked themselves into the ground and we profited when they were tired."
Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.
Loser: The Officials
1 of 5
The match officials had a shocking evening on Wednesday at Borussia Park, Germany.
The first-half penalty awarded to Borussia Monchengladbach was perhaps soft, with Raffael going down in stages, and they were then denied a stonewall decision later on as Lars Stindl was hacked down by Fernandinho.
Manchester City were given a penalty late on to win it, and it's arguable Sergio Aguero bought the decision off Alvaro Dominguez. Furthermore, the fifth official failed to notice Martin Demichelis had forced the ball at least a yard over the line in the build-up to Nicolas Otamendi's equaliser.
That's three, possibly four errors. Howler.
Winner: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City
2 of 5
Once again, Kevin De Bruyne emerged as one of Manchester City’s true bright lights, putting in an excellent performance on Wednesday evening.
Throughout the match, the Belgian manipulated space and completed key passes in tight areas, serving up chance after chance for team-mates only to see most of them squandered.
He was particularly effective splitting wide, delivering low crosses into the box that forced Borussia Monchengladbach into perennially evasive action.
So far so good for the £55 million man.
Loser: Aleksandar Kolarov, Manchester City
3 of 5
Aleksandar Kolarov’s form has dropped off a cliff the last two weeks, falling from a privileged position in our Premier League player rankings all the way down to a measly 18th in the latest edition.
Opposing teams have been targeting his defensive frailties and getting joy out of it, exposing him as the weak link in the side, and Borussia Monchengladbach managed the same on Wednesday.
With the home side countering, Kolarov rashly stepped out and allowed Patrick Herrmann to sear down the flank and cross for Lars Stindl to sweep home. Why on earth he felt the need to commit and expose the entire flank is unclear.
Gael Clichy is fit and on the bench, and it feels inevitable that the Frenchman will be given the chance to win the left-back slot back. Kolarov's put in three poor showings in a row; that can't be tolerated in a squad with such depth.
Winner: Joe Hart, Manchester City
4 of 5
Joe Hart put in a stunning performance on Wednesday evening, hammering home just how silly it was for Manuel Pellegrini to bench him in favour of Willy Caballero last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur.
The England international constantly made up for his team-mates’ shortcomings, saving a Raffael penalty and four one-on-one chances fashioned on the counter-attack. He aced every venture off his line, making himself big and getting his angles spot on.
“We may as well keep this tweet on file: Joe Hart saves from Raffael. Again.” tweeted Borussia Monchengladbach early in the second half, confirming their frustration with the superlative display put on by Hart.
He did eventually concede, but that doesn't take away from a brilliant performance.
Loser: Raffael, Borussia Monchengladbach
5 of 5
Raffael was an absolute menace in transitions on Wednesday, dribbling long distances with the ball at his feet and worrying Manchester City’s defenders with his speed. He broke forward with regularity and represented the spearhead of Borussia Monchengladbach’s attack.
But, unfortunately for the home side, his end product was wholly lacking. Joe Hart may have put in a truly stunning performance, but Raffael missed chance after chance—including a first-half penalty.
Gladbach squandered so many chances, and with Raffael the chief culprit, he has to be considered a loser despite his excellence in the build-up.
