Match Report: Manchester City 2-1 Napoli
The encounter was hyped to be one of the best games of football this season. Essentially anticipated as a battle between two of the most creative and attacking sides and a mind game between two astute tacticians in Sarri and Guardiola, it was the team from Manchester that lived upto the expectations and provided a dominant first-half display.
Manchester City opened the scoring in the 8th minute of the game when a brilliant team move sliced open Napoli. Sane played the ball down the line to Silva whose cutback was missed by Gabriel Jesus but fell for Kyle Walker instead. Walker’s shot got blocked, but Sterling was on hand to knock it home from close range. Napoli looked shellshocked after the quick goal. Pep’s side maintained the intensity, pressurising the opposition and dominating possession. The intensity paid off.
City’s star man Kevin de Bruyne latched on to the ball on the edge of the area and delivered a low cross into the box which was sublimely finished off by Gabriel Jesus after 13 minutes into the match. Napoli really struggled to keep up and City made it so difficult for them with their ball circulation and high press. At the 25th minute mark, de Bruyne attempted a long range left-footed shot from 25 yards out which hit the underside of the bar and got cleared to safety. Would’ve been a wonder goal. At the 37th minute, against the tide of events, Napoli were awarded a penalty after Walker pulled Raul Albiol down in the penalty area.
Dries Mertens stepped up to take the penalty, but it was dreadful, to say the least and got saved by Ederson. Mertens looked poised to turn in the rebound but it was cleared by Fernandinho and City went into the tunnel at half time with a 2-0 lead.
Manchester City preferred comfort over adventure in the second half and didn’t even look half as threatening as they did in the first. At the 72nd minute mark, Napoli earned themselves another penalty as Ghoulam’s charge into the box was thwarted by the outstretched leg of Fernandinho.
Diawara, who has never taken a penalty before did a better job than Mertens and slotted the ball home calmly and brought his side back into the game. After a brilliant team move between Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, Gabriel Jesus put the ball into the back of the net but it was ruled out for offside. Napoli tried their best to get back into the game but City managed to hold on and secured themselves a 2-1 victory.
Here’s how twitter reacted to Man City’s stunning performance:
Yet another impressive showing by Manchester City, fantastic football so far. Napoli trying, but struggling.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) October 17, 2017
Ederson saves the penalty with his foot! How fitting!
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) October 17, 2017
De Bruyne is ridiculously good.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 17, 2017
Guardiola on @premiumsporthd “Impossible to dominate Napoli for 90 minutes. Never faced some1 like them, not as a player, nor as a coach.”
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) October 17, 2017
That first half hour from Man City is amongst the best football I’ve ever seen from an English side. Utter control and constant chances.
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) October 17, 2017
If it wasn’t evident already, Pep has managed to transform Stones and Sterling into completely new players. Brilliant game till now
— Cruijffista (@cruijffiaan) October 17, 2017
Underwhelming second half by Manchester City, but a strong defensive display guaranteed a win.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) October 17, 2017
