Manchester City vs. Sevilla: Winners and Losers from Champions League Game
Manchester City took one certifiable step toward the UEFA Champions League knockout stages thanks to a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Sevilla on Wednesday evening.
Yehven Konoplyanka had given the visitors an early lead after a well-worked cut-back routine, but an Adil Rami own goal put City back on level terms. A frantic second half saw both defences cave in and concede chances, but it was Kevin De Bruyne who stepped up and delivered the winner in the 92nd minute.
“They made it very difficult for us,” Joe Hart admitted to BT Sport’s live broadcast after the game.
“We tried everything to look for the victory, thankfully in the end we scored,” added De Bruyne.
Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City
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Kevin De Bryune simply continues to come up with the goods; he cost more than £50 million in transfer fees this summer, prompting widespread raised eyebrows, but so far his production matches his valuation.
A 92nd-minute winner here gives Manchester City their second victory of the group stage and puts them in pole position to qualify for the knockout stages should no more mistakes be made. His slick finish, guided powerfully into the corner with his trusted left peg, took the roof off the Etihad Stadium.
Scoring such important goals at key times wins you favour, and De Bruyne, right now, is even being labelled a bargain by some quarters of the City fanbase.
Loser: Kevin Gameiro, Sevilla
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Sevilla created numerous chances on Wednesday night, frequently breaching Manchester City’s defensive line and working the flanks extremely well. The bylines were a constant source of creativity for los Rojiblancos, with Yehven Konoplyanka, Vicente Iborra and Vitolo all getting in behind and cutting balls back into the box.
Unfortunately, Sevilla lack the cutting edge they relied upon last season. Kevin Gameiro is no Carlos Bacca—as Unai Emery has found out over the last few months—and the Frenchman fluffed a lot of chances to score.
Gameiro isn’t under extreme threat from Fernando Llorente or Ciro Immobile, both depth options, but Emery could act in January, opting to spend some of the €30 million earned from Bacca’s transfer to Milan.
Winner: Yehven Konoplyanka, Sevilla
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Yehven Konoplyanka was one of the most coveted free agents this summer, and Monchi (Sevilla’s brilliant Sporting Director) pulled off one hell of a deal in convincing the Ukrainian that Seville was the place for him.
On Wednesday he didn’t disappoint, tormenting Manchester City’s full-backs, netting the opening goal with a neat finish and smacking the post from an acute-angled free-kick.
His blend of pace, power, directness and shooting ability make him an absolute nightmare to deal with, and even Bacary Sagna—a seasoned one-on-one defender—had trouble keeping up with him.
Loser: Wilfried Bony, Manchester City
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On Twitter, B/R’s Andrew Gibney described Manchester City’s experience of playing with Wilfried Bony in the side on Wednesday as “like playing with 10 men at times.”
The Ivorian was in the perfect position to build upon a brilliant showing against AFC Bournemouth last weekend, in which he scored twice and interlinked superbly with Raheem Sterling, but instead looked uninspiring and flat. His shooting was off, his link play non-existent, and in the second half he barely looked interested.
In the end, Manuel Pellegrini took him off and pushed Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne further forward, asking them to produce the goods when it mattered. The latter obliged.
Winner: Jesus Navas, Manchester City
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Jesus Navas looked absolutely determined to score, or at the very least impress, against his former club Sevilla on Wednesday night. He belied his recent domestic form, which has fallen short of the required standard at times, to dazzle throughout the 2-1 victory.
His confident dribbling and searing pace gave Benoit Tremoulinas all sorts of issues on the flank, and while his crossing still looked thoroughly sub-par, his passing and breaking between the lines served as important functions in City’s attacking moves.
If only he played his former club every week!
