City suffer first Champions League loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen

City suffered a night of Champions League frustration, losing out 2-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen in our latest league phase fixture.

Pitted against a much-changed City side, Leverkusen had struck first, skipper Alejandro Grimaldo firing the Germans into a 23rd minute lead.

The visitors then doubled their lead nine minutes after the restart thanks to a Patrick Schick header.

City sought a late response, making numerous changes from the bench.

But though we went close with substitutes Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki both almost making an instant impact, Leverkusen held firm in what was a frustrating way to mark Pep Guardiola’s centenary of  Champions League games proper in charge of the Blues.

The game in 250 words

For what was his 100th game at the helm with City in the Champions League proper, the Etihad boss had opted to start with a side showing 10 changes from last weekend’s Premier League trip to Newcastle.

SQUAD GOALS: The City team line up ahead of kick-off.

However, it was Leverkusen who made the initial Etihad inroads.

The Germans had come into the contest on the back of a fine run of form and first demonstrated their quality with a rapid 10th minute counterattack which required a smart Rayan Ait-Nouri key block to deny Ernest Poku.

The Leverkusen threat was then realised when they broke the deadlock on 23 minutes.

An inviting right wing cross from Ibrahim Maza was initially met by Christian Kofane’s deft touch.

That allowed the onrushing Alejandro Grimaldo the time and space to drill a first time shot from 15 yards past James Trafford and into the far corner of the net.

ACTION MAN: Omar Marmoush takes the fight to Leverkusen.

City sought to summon up a response and both Oscar Bobb and Tijjani Reijnders were denied by smart saves from Brentford keeper Mark Flekken a minute from the half-time break.

In an effort to find a breakthrough, the Blues opted to bring on Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and Nico O’Reilly straight after the break.

However, a tough task then got even more demanding with Leverkusen doubling their advantage in 54 minutes.

Maza was the architect, dinking in an inviting cross ball and Schick reacted smartly to guide a precise header past Trafford.

POWER PLAY: Rayan Ait-Nouri in the thick of things

That saw Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki both brought on from the bench as City sought a rapid response.

And only a fine 69th minute Flekken save denied Haaland after he latched onto a sumptuous Foden pass.

Flekken was there again six minutes from time, this time to keep out Cherki’s goal bound free-kick to compound our frustration.

It meant City lost out in Europe for the first time this season.

BENCH PRESS: Substitute Nico O'Reilly looks to inspire the Blues.

Teams

CITY XI: Trafford, Khusanov (Cherki 64), Stones (C), Ake, Ait-Nouri (O’Reilly 45), Lewis (Foden 45), Nico, Reijnders, Bobb (Doku 45), Savio, Marmoush (Haaland 64)

Subs: Bettinelli Donnarumma, Dias, Bernardo, Gvardiol, Nunes.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN: Flekken, Quansah, Bade, Tillman, Schick, Poku, Grimaldo, Garcia, Maza, Kofane (Tellah 82), Belocian.

Subs: Lomb, Schlick, Echeverri, Ben Seghir, J Mensah, Culbreath, Hawighorst, N. Mensah, Pohl.

Attendance: 50,592

MIDDLE MARCH: Nathan Ake weighs up the options.

Pep’s reaction

To follow

Player reaction

To follow

THE BOSS: Pep Guardiola urges City on.

What it means

Tonight’s result leaves City in sixth place in the composite Champions League table.

The Blues have 10 points from five games played so far with three more to come in the league phase.

Next up in Europe for the Blues is a mouthwatering trip to take on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

That game takes place on Wednesday, December 12, kick-off 20.00 (UK).

What’s next

City return to Premier League action on Saturday, November 29 when we play host to Leeds United.

Kick-off at the Etihad is slated for 15.00 (UK).