Up to now, Manchester City have had a largely tumultuous relationship with the Champions League. Struggles on the field, and near complete disregard from UEFA off it has seen an ever increasing apathy towards the competition turn to widespread derision. Each and every incident has been met with a more pathetic retort than the last by European football’s governing body. None more so than its most recent decision to investigate City fans for ‘booing’ the ‘sacred’ Champions League anthem.
Whilst the problems away from on the field matters show no sign of abating, those on it could well be a thing of the past, after a majestic display in Southern Spain last night. Devastating in attack yet dominant in defence. Not a combination seen regularly from City in European competition, but it was in full effect against Sevilla. The Blues nullified the Spaniards attacking threat superbly, especially in the second half, defying logic and the history books to become the first English side to win in the Sanchez Pizjuan. This was also the first Champions League home defeat for Sevilla in their history.
City were at it right from the off, defending from the front, pressurising their hosts and forcing mistakes. The outstanding duo of Fernando and Fernandinho were central to this, both at their combative best. Whilst Fernando sat in holding role, breaking up the play, Fernandinho was given the licence to roam, trading attacking duties with Yaya Toure.
Unsurprisingly, it was Fernandinho who created the opener. He found a pocket of space in the final third before playing a precise pass inside the full back to Raheem Sterling who coolly slotted home. Minutes later, it was Sterling’s turn to wreak havoc in the Sevilla defence. The winger swarmed all over Coke, causing the full-back to make a costly error from Vincent Kompany’s clearance. He charged into the box, picking out Bony with his cutback, and when the Ivorian’s effort was only parried by Sergio Rico, who was on hand to head home City’s second? Fernandinho of course. Who else.
The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan was shocked into silence. A sea of fluorescent green had swamped their fortress. Two and a half thousand pilgrims from Manchester were rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Sevilla gathered themselves and mounted a response. Llorente missed a guilt edged chance before Coke linked nicely with Vitolo to allow Tremoulinas to score the simplest of headers to halve the deficit. The spell of pressure continued. Iborra thought he had equalised, only for Hart to deny him with a stunning save. Then came the dagger into Spanish hearts. Hart claimed the ball from a Sevilla corner before quickly releasing Jesus Navas with a pinpoint pass. Navas, returning to the club where he made his name for the first time since leaving for Manchester, collected the ball with aplomb. Plucking it out of the Andalucían skyline, he cut inside, exchanged passes with the effervescent Fernandinho before picking out Wilfried Bony, who struck his first Champions League goal. A devastating counter attack from Pellegrini’s men. 4 passes and the ball was in the back of the net. Any life in the crowd that had been resurrected was sucked out again in one fell swoop.
The second half promised an onslaught from the hosts. The reality was that it never surfaced. It wasn’t allowed to. City saw the game out with a measure of control that was so unlike the rest of their Champions League forays. In fact, it was the visitors who went closest to troubling the scoreboard further; Toure and Fernandinho both narrowly missing opportunities to extend the advantage.
Manuel Pellegrini seemingly learnt his lessons from previous encounters, forming a significantly sturdier platform from which City could attack. The midfield triumvirate of Fernando, Fernandinho and Toure ran the show, allowing Sterling and Navas to use their dynamic pace to full effect.
It was a coming of age for City in Europe. They conquered a ground where guests commonly return home from battle battered and bruised. Sevilla simply do not lose at home in Europe, but last night they were overwhelmed. The hatches that had been battened down for so long were smashed open by a lime green army. Now to replicate it on a regular basis. If they can do that, maybe it won’t be so long before City are a recurring feature of the Champions League’s latter stages.
