Manchester City Dominates Slovan Bratislava in 4-0 Champions League Victory
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Manchester City Dominates Slovan Bratislava in 4-0 Champions League Victory
Early Goals Set the Tone in Slovakia
Manchester City secured their first victory of the Champions League campaign with a commanding 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia on Tuesday. Goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden in the opening 15 minutes put City in control before Erling Haaland and substitute James McAtee sealed the victory. The win followed City’s earlier draw with Inter Milan, injecting momentum into their European campaign.
City’s Dominance from the Start
City took charge early, with two quick goals establishing their dominance. Gundogan opened the scoring just eight minutes into the match, volleying home after a deflection from a Savinho effort that was parried by Slovan keeper Dominik Takac. Just seven minutes later, Phil Foden doubled the lead, placing a precise low shot into the bottom corner following a sharp pass from Jeremy Doku. Doku was a constant threat on the right flank, creating numerous chances for his teammates and testing Slovan’s defense throughout the match.
Slovan Bratislava, who were playing at home in the Champions League proper for the first time after advancing through four qualifying rounds, faced an uphill battle. Despite their 5-1 defeat to Celtic in their previous match, their fans were undeterred, generating a lively atmosphere inside the 22,500-capacity stadium.
Haaland Adds to His Champions League Tally
Although City were not at their absolute best, they continued to pile on the pressure. Haaland, having already shot wide early on, made no mistake just before the hour mark. The Norwegian striker latched onto a through-ball from Rico Lewis, calmly rounding the keeper to score his 42nd goal in 41 Champions League appearances. Haaland’s goal effectively put the game beyond doubt, allowing Pep Guardiola to make several substitutions, including bringing on James McAtee.
McAtee Nets First Senior Goal
McAtee, fresh from successful loan spells with Sheffield United, made an instant impact after coming on. Foden found the academy graduate in space, and McAtee took a composed touch before sliding the ball past Takac for his first senior goal for Manchester City. The 20-year-old midfielder nearly added a second but was denied by Takac in the closing stages. City remained in control, even hitting the woodwork three times during the match, with efforts from Gundogan, Foden, and Doku all narrowly missing the target.
Guardiola’s Tactical Concerns
Despite the convincing scoreline, Pep Guardiola was not entirely satisfied with his team’s performance. The City manager expressed frustration several times, particularly when Slovan Bratislava caught City off guard with counter-attacks. Early in the match, former City trainee Vladimir Weiss set up Marko Tolic for a close chance that went just wide, a reminder of City’s occasional defensive lapses.
Guardiola made six changes from the side that drew against Newcastle in the Premier League, and while City never appeared in real danger, the manager’s desire for perfection was clear. Nevertheless, the team’s overall quality shone through against Slovan’s limited resistance, ensuring a comfortable victory.
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