Another win in Manchester City’s so far perfect defence is the latest clue that Pep Guardiola’s team may emulate Real Madrid in retaining this title, becoming only the second club to do so in the Champions League era.
After his criticism of the Wankdorf’s artificial surface his charges performed admirably – and, if they did not reduce Switzerland’s champions to unwilling bystanders as City do so many sides, victory is the perfect warm-up for Sunday’s challenge: the 191st Manchester derby.
Nine points from three games means Guardiola’s side are close to entering the knockout phase but Erik ten Hag will surely have noted how City could be loose in possession, as he prepares Manchester United for their Old Trafford visit. Also, Meschack Elia’s equaliser means City have managed only three clean sheets in 14 games – further hope for United.
The champions’ decisive blow came from the trusty boot of Erling Haaland whose 67th-minute penalty came after Mohamed Ali Camara fouled Jack Grealish. Towards the end the striker added his second on a satisfying night that had begun with the following question: how might City fare in their first ever meeting with this opponent on the synthetic pitch? The verdict appeared good as, after a fierce Filip Ugrinic shot was beaten away by Ederson, the holders guarded the ball then opened up the hosts’ defence.
Grealish stuck out a leg, pulled down a Rodri ball with aplomb, drove on and delivered a cross for Matheus Nunes to blast over. This came after Rodri headed wide and Haaland, in battering-ram mode, drove through the middle of Raphaël Wicky’s team, scattering yellow shirts. The home side may have been instructed to bully City as Jérémy Doku (more than once) and Haaland were scythed down.
What could Young Boys offer beyond this? A corner swung in from the left by Ulisses Garcia proved a dud and then it was back to a frantic rearguard act. But they could not stop Rico Lewis barrelling forward in a move that had Doku teeing up Mateo Kovacic, who took a touch instead of unloading a shot.
Manuel Akanji pounces to break the deadlock for Manchester City. Photograph: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock
A blur of action in blue followed. Nunes slipped Haaland through but he sprayed wide, then Grealish hammered a killer pass to Doku. The Belgian dropped a shoulder, swept inside and let fly with his left – Anthony Racioppi stayed upright and repelled but the winger should have beaten the goalkeeper.
Nunes thought he had done precisely this when following up on Grealish’s lasered effort that Racioppi spilled, but goalline technology showed the ball did not go fully in.
Yet this one-way traffic was reversed in a flash as City got turned and Cedric Itten curved the ball into Sandro Lauper, who really had to score. But the midfielder dawdled and an elongated Nathan Aké leg saved the visitors.
On the bench, Guardiola had Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva whose trickery might break the contest open, the latter in particular seeming a candidate to replace Nunes. After a rising Doku shot was tipped away by Racioppi and the busy keeper somehow kept out a Rodri half-volley, the City manager may have pondered when to make any changes as he strolled off for the interval.
Grealish, for some unknown reason, was booed throughout. When the No 10 dropped a corner over for Manuel Akanji to take aim, the winger initiated what ended as the perfect riposte: the opener. First, the defender’s effort went for another corner, and when this broke City scored after Rúben Dias’s header was palmed on to the bar by Racioppi and, this time, Akanji’s finish was lethal.
Coming from a former Basel player, this was definitely bitter for the home faithful, but their mood soon changed. The equaliser came via a break – what else versus City? – as Elia skipped past Lewis and lobbed a spiralling finish over an onrushing Ederson. Cue a mighty roar from most inside Stadion Wankdorf and City were rocked. Lewis soon fired a long-range rocket in an attempt to re-establish their lead but this was blocked before Lauper, twice, tried but failed to give his side the advantage. A visibly unhappy Guardiola had Ederson to thank for the score staying level after the Brazilian saved a swerving Itten attempt.
Now came the clincher. Haaland’s killer instinct allowed Racioppi no chance from the spot before the Norwegian hooked home late on. Next, City focus on the weekend squabble with their neighbour.
